Claim: Relative and absolute dating are important methods used in science to understand the age of rocks and fossils.
Evidence:
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Relative Dating: This method helps scientists figure out the order of events. For example, if one layer of rock is under another layer, scientists can say the bottom layer is older. This method does not give an exact age but helps understand which rocks or fossils are older or younger compared to others.
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Absolute Dating: This method gives a specific age in years. Scientists use techniques like radiometric dating, which measures the decay of certain elements in the rocks. For example, they can measure how much of a radioactive element is left in a rock to find out how old it is.
Reasoning: Knowing the age of rocks and fossils helps scientists understand Earth's history, how life has changed over time, and how different events like volcanic eruptions or earthquakes have shaped the planet. Without these dating methods, it would be harder to piece together the story of our Earth and the life on it.