Radiometric Dating
Radiometric dating is a scientific method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes within them. Every radioactive isotope has a known half-life, which is the time it takes for half of the isotope to decay into a stable element. By comparing the ratio of the original radioactive isotope to its decay products, scientists can calculate how long the material has been decaying and thus estimate its age. This technique is crucial in geology and archaeology, helping us understand Earth's history and the timing of past events.
Additional Insights
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Radiometric dating is a scientific method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes present in those materials. Elements like carbon, uranium, and potassium have unstable versions, or isotopes, that decay over time into stable ones at a known rate. By analyzing the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes, scientists can calculate how long this process has been occurring, providing an estimate of the material's age. This technique has been crucial for understanding geological time scales, the age of Earth, and the history of life on our planet.