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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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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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AnswerBot

9mo ago
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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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Wiki User

13y ago
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scientist can determine a fossil's age in two ways: relative dating and absolute dating

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Wiki User

8y ago
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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.


What is radioactive dating and how is it used to determine the age of rocks and fossils?

Radioactive dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes within them. This process relies on the principle that certain isotopes decay at a known rate over time, allowing scientists to calculate the age of the sample based on the amount of remaining radioactive isotopes.


How does radioactive dating work to determine the age of rocks and fossils?

Radioactive dating works by measuring the amount of radioactive isotopes in a rock or fossil and calculating how long it has been decaying. By comparing the ratio of radioactive isotopes to stable isotopes, scientists can determine the age of the sample.


What is the radiometric dating formula used to determine the age of rocks and fossils?

The radiometric dating formula used to determine the age of rocks and fossils is based on the decay of radioactive isotopes. One common formula is the equation for radioactive decay: N N0 e(-t), where N is the amount of radioactive isotope remaining, N0 is the initial amount of the isotope, is the decay constant, and t is the time elapsed.


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.