Flashcards SC.7.E.6.3

Front

What is the law of superposition?

Back

Front

How does the law of superposition help scientists determine the age of Earth’s parts?

Back

Front

What is radioactive dating?

Back

Front

What is an isotope?

Back

Front

How does radiometric dating work?

Back

Front

What is half-life in radioactive decay?

Back

Front

What is carbon-14 dating used for?

Back

Dating ancient organic materials, such as fossils or artifacts, up to about 50,000 years old.

Front

Why can’t carbon-14 dating be used for very old rocks?

Back

Carbon-14 has a relatively short half-life, making it ineffective for dating rocks millions or billions of years old.

Front

What methods do scientists use to determine Earth's age?

Back

Radiometric dating of meteorites and Earth’s oldest rocks, along with analysis of the Moon’s surface.

Front

How old is Earth estimated to be?

Back

About 4.6 billion years old, based on radiometric dating of ancient rocks and meteorites.