Question
Scientists use radiometric dating to determine the absolute age of a rock. Why is radiometric dating useful for this task?
A.
Radioactive isotopes have brief half-lives, some less than a minute.
B.
A rock’s supply of radioactive isotopes stays constant over time.
C.
Radioactive isotopes decay at a constant rate.
D.
Radioactive isotopes readily form bonds with common, stable elements.
A.
Radioactive isotopes have brief half-lives, some less than a minute.
B.
A rock’s supply of radioactive isotopes stays constant over time.
C.
Radioactive isotopes decay at a constant rate.
D.
Radioactive isotopes readily form bonds with common, stable elements.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is:
**C. Radioactive isotopes decay at a constant rate.**
Radiometric dating relies on the principle that radioactive isotopes decay at a predictable and constant rate, known as their half-life. This allows scientists to measure the amount of a radioactive isotope remaining in a rock or mineral and calculate how much time has passed since the rock formed, thus determining its absolute age.
**C. Radioactive isotopes decay at a constant rate.**
Radiometric dating relies on the principle that radioactive isotopes decay at a predictable and constant rate, known as their half-life. This allows scientists to measure the amount of a radioactive isotope remaining in a rock or mineral and calculate how much time has passed since the rock formed, thus determining its absolute age.
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