scientists can prove an absolute age of some rocks by using the time the isotopes take to break down what is this called

Answer 1

The method you are referring to is called radiometric dating. This technique measures the decay of radioactive isotopes in rocks and minerals to determine their absolute age. Different isotopes decay at different rates, known as their half-lives, which allows scientists to date materials ranging from thousands to millions of years old. Common isotopes used in radiometric dating include uranium-lead, potassium-argon, and carbon-14, among others.