Question
Select the statement(s) that are true about absolute dating.
Radioactive isotopes break down into more stable elements.
Carbon-14 is used to find the age of a fossil.
Absolute dating gives the actual age in years, while relative dating only compares the age to other rocks or fossils.
Radiometric dating is a method of absolute dating.
Absolute dating must be done in undisturbed rock layers.
Radioactive isotopes break down into more stable elements.
Carbon-14 is used to find the age of a fossil.
Absolute dating gives the actual age in years, while relative dating only compares the age to other rocks or fossils.
Radiometric dating is a method of absolute dating.
Absolute dating must be done in undisturbed rock layers.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
Answers:
1. True — Radioactive isotopes decay into more stable daughter isotopes.
2. Partly true — Carbon-14 is used to date once‑living (organic) remains, but only up to ~50,000–60,000 years. Most fossils are much older and cannot be dated with C‑14.
3. True — Absolute dating gives an age in years; relative dating only places rocks/fossils in order (older/younger).
4. True — Radiometric (radioactive) dating is a common absolute‑dating method.
5. False — Absolute dating does not require layers to be undisturbed; it requires that the dated material behaved as a closed system (no loss/gain of parent or daughter isotopes). Disturbance can invalidate some dates, but many absolute dates are obtained from igneous/mineral samples regardless of layer disturbance.
1. True — Radioactive isotopes decay into more stable daughter isotopes.
2. Partly true — Carbon-14 is used to date once‑living (organic) remains, but only up to ~50,000–60,000 years. Most fossils are much older and cannot be dated with C‑14.
3. True — Absolute dating gives an age in years; relative dating only places rocks/fossils in order (older/younger).
4. True — Radiometric (radioactive) dating is a common absolute‑dating method.
5. False — Absolute dating does not require layers to be undisturbed; it requires that the dated material behaved as a closed system (no loss/gain of parent or daughter isotopes). Disturbance can invalidate some dates, but many absolute dates are obtained from igneous/mineral samples regardless of layer disturbance.
There are no human answers yet. A form for humans to post answers is coming very soon!