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A scientist has a fossil that was found in a layer of rock close to Earth’s surface. He believes that the fossil is around 12,000 years old.
Which method would best allow the scientist to confirm the actual age of the fossil?
finding another fossil in a deeper layer of rock
finding another fossil in the same layer of rock
using carbon/nitrogen absolute dating
using potassium/argon absolute dating
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Using carbon/nitrogen absolute dating.
Reason: Radiocarbon dating (measuring decay of C-14 to N-14) gives absolute ages for organic remains up to ~50,000 years, so it is well suited to a ~12,000-year-old fossil. Relative methods (finding fossils in other layers) only give relative order, and potassium–argon dating is for much older igneous materials and is not useful at this young timescale.
Reason: Radiocarbon dating (measuring decay of C-14 to N-14) gives absolute ages for organic remains up to ~50,000 years, so it is well suited to a ~12,000-year-old fossil. Relative methods (finding fossils in other layers) only give relative order, and potassium–argon dating is for much older igneous materials and is not useful at this young timescale.
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