Relative and Absolute Dating

Front

What is the definition of Absolute Dating?

Back

Absolute dating is a method used to determine the exact age of a rock, fossil, or archaeological artifact, often expressed in years.

Front

What is the definition of Relative Dating?

Back

Relative dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another, without providing a specific numerical age.

Front

What is a Half-Life?

Back

Half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Front

If a sample has a half-life of 8 days, how much of a 40 mg sample remains after 16 days?

Back

10 mg.

Front

What is an Unconformity in geology?

Back

An unconformity is a break in the geologic record that occurs when rock layers are eroded over time.

Front

What is the Parent Element in radioactive decay?

Back

The parent element is the original radioactive isotope that undergoes decay to form a daughter isotope.

Front

What is a Daughter Element?

Back

A daughter element is the product of the decay of a parent radioactive isotope.

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 are at the top.

Front

What is Cross-Cutting Relationships in geology?

Back

Cross-cutting relationships state that a geological feature (like a fault or intrusion) that cuts through another is younger than the feature it cuts.

Front

How do you calculate the remaining amount of a substance after multiple half-lives?

Back

Remaining amount = Initial amount × (1/2)^(number of half-lives).