Relative and Absolute Dating

Front

What is Relative Dating?

Back

Relative Dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another, without determining their exact age.

Front

What is Absolute Dating?

Back

Absolute Dating is a method used to determine the exact age of a rock or fossil, often using techniques like radiometric dating.

Front

What does the Law of Superposition state?

Back

The Law of Superposition states that in undisturbed sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

Front

What is a Half-Life?

Back

Half-Life is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay into stable material.

Front

What is an Intrusion in geology?

Back

An Intrusion is a body of igneous rock that forms when magma pushes into existing rock layers and solidifies.

Front

What is a Layer in geological terms?

Back

A Layer refers to a distinct stratum of rock or sediment that has formed over time.

Front

What is Radiometric Dating?

Back

Radiometric Dating is a technique used to date materials by comparing the abundance of a radioactive isotope to its decay products.

Front

What is the difference between Relative and Absolute Dating?

Back

Relative Dating places events in order without exact dates, while Absolute Dating provides a specific age for rocks or fossils.

Front

What is an example of Relative Dating?

Back

An example of Relative Dating is saying 'Layer E is older than Layer D'.

Front

What is the significance of Fossils in dating?

Back

Fossils help in relative dating by providing clues about the age of the rock layers in which they are found.