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scientist can determine a fossil's age in two ways: relative dating and absolute dating

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Lupe Hahn

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2y ago
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5mo ago

Scientists use a method called radiometric dating, which involves measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes in the fossil. By comparing the ratio of the isotopes to their decay products, scientists can calculate the age of the fossil. The most commonly used radioactive isotopes for dating fossils are carbon-14 and uranium-238.

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13y ago

they use a technique called ,absolute dating this allows scientist to determine the actual age of fossils.the rocks that fossils are found near contain radioactive element unstable elements that decay ,or break down ,into different elementss .the half life of a radio active element is the time it takes for half of the atoms ina a sample to decay

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8y ago

scientist can determine a fossil's age in two ways: relative dating and absolute dating

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Q: How do scientist use radioactive elements to determine the actual age of fossils?
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What is the process called when scientists use radioactive isotopes to calculate a fossils age?

The process is called radiometric dating. Scientists measure the decay of radioactive isotopes in fossils to determine their age by calculating the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes. This method is commonly used in paleontology and archeology to determine the age of fossils and artifacts.


An understanding of which of these best enabled scientists to determine the approximate ages of fossils?

The understanding of radioactive decay, specifically carbon dating and other radiometric dating methods, has enabled scientists to determine the approximate ages of fossils by measuring the decay of isotopes within the fossils. This process allows scientists to estimate the age of fossils based on the ratio of isotopes present in the sample.


What did scientists study to develop the geologic time scale?

Scientists studied the layers of rock formations, fossils, and radioactive dating techniques to develop the geologic time scale. By analyzing the relative ages of rocks and fossils, as well as the decay of radioactive elements within them, scientists were able to divide Earth's history into distinct time periods.


How do scientist age a rock?

Scientists age rocks using various methods, such as radiometric dating which measures the decay of radioactive isotopes within the rock, or by studying the layers of rock and fossils found within to determine its relative age based on the principle of superposition. These methods help scientists determine the age of the rock and gain insight into Earth's history and past geological events.


What sentence best describes the information provided by radiometric dating?

Radiometric dating measures the decay of radioactive isotopes in rocks to determine their age.

Related questions

What two ways do scientist use fossils to determine the environmental changes?

its radioactive dating and relative dating


How do radioactive elements be used to date fossils?

brick


What can scientists learn from the rate at which radioactive elements decay?

fossils


Why do scientist use radioactive dating?

Scientists use radioactive dating to determine the age of rocks and fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes. By analyzing the ratio of parent and daughter isotopes, scientists can calculate the age of the material. This technique is particularly useful for dating objects that are millions or billions of years old.


How do scientist determine when an era begins and when it ends?

rocks and fossils


What property of radioactive isotopes allow them to be used to determine the age of rocks and fossils?

Their half life.


How do scientist use radioactive isotopes for radioactive dating?

Scientists use radioactive isotopes in minerals to determine the age of rocks and fossils through a process called radiometric dating. By measuring the ratio of the parent isotope to the daughter isotope, scientists can calculate the age of a sample based on the known decay rate of the radioactive isotope. This method is commonly used in geology, archaeology, and paleontology to determine the age of Earth materials.


What is the process called when scientists use radioactive isotopes to calculate a fossils age?

The process is called radiometric dating. Scientists measure the decay of radioactive isotopes in fossils to determine their age by calculating the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes. This method is commonly used in paleontology and archeology to determine the age of fossils and artifacts.


Radioactive dating of fossils depends on the decay of what?

Radioactive dating of fossils depends on the decay of isotopes, such as carbon-14 or uranium, within the fossil. By measuring the amount of remaining radioactive isotopes and their decay products, scientists can determine the fossil's age.


Elements used in radioactive dating?

Elements commonly used in radioactive dating include uranium, thorium, potassium, and carbon. These elements decay at known rates, allowing scientists to measure the amount of decay in a sample and determine its age. By comparing the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes, scientists can calculate the age of rocks, fossils, and other materials.


Radioactive dating enables geologists to determine?

the age of rocks and fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive elements within them. This helps geologists understand the timeline of Earth's history and the process of its geological development.


Can you use halflife to determine when dinosaurs died?

The concept of half-life is used to measure the rate of radioactive decay in elements, not to determine when dinosaurs died. Paleontologists use various dating techniques, such as radiometric dating of the rocks associated with dinosaur fossils or relative dating based on the position of fossils in rock layers, to estimate when dinosaurs lived and became extinct.