The quantity that helps determine the absolute age of rocks and fossils is the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14. This method, known as radiocarbon dating, relies on measuring the relative amounts of these isotopes in a sample to estimate its age.
Which quantity helps determine the absolute age of rocks and fossils?(1 point)
Responses
the difference between the number of protons and neutrons in carbon-14
the difference between the number of protons and neutrons in carbon-14
the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14
the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14
the ratio of protons to neutrons in carbon-14
the ratio of protons to neutrons in carbon-14
the difference between the amounts of carbon-12 and carbon-14
5 answers
Use this paragraph: The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,700 years. A certain sample of wood has 20 grams of carbon-14 when it is alive.
How many grams of carbon will it have after 5,700 years?
(1 point)
Responses
10 grams
10 grams
40 grams
40 grams
2 grams
2 grams
5 grams
How many grams of carbon will it have after 5,700 years?
(1 point)
Responses
10 grams
10 grams
40 grams
40 grams
2 grams
2 grams
5 grams
After 5,700 years, the sample of wood will have 10 grams of carbon-14 remaining. This is because the half-life of carbon-14 is 5,700 years, meaning that after one half-life, the amount of carbon-14 will be reduced by half from the original amount of 20 grams.
Which statement best describes why most individual organisms never fossilized?(1 point)
Responses
Only organisms that lived in the ocean fossilize.
Only organisms that lived in the ocean fossilize.
Chemicals that fossilize organisms are rare.
Chemicals that fossilize organisms are rare.
Conditions for fossilization are rare.
Conditions for fossilization are rare.
Only organisms with hard parts fossilize.
Responses
Only organisms that lived in the ocean fossilize.
Only organisms that lived in the ocean fossilize.
Chemicals that fossilize organisms are rare.
Chemicals that fossilize organisms are rare.
Conditions for fossilization are rare.
Conditions for fossilization are rare.
Only organisms with hard parts fossilize.
The statement that best describes why most individual organisms never fossilized is Conditions for fossilization are rare. While having hard parts can improve the chances of fossilization, the specific environmental conditions required for fossilization to occur (such as rapid burial and the absence of oxygen) are not commonly met.