Radiometric dating

Definition

Radiometric dating is a technique used to date materials such as rocks or carbon by comparing the relative abundance of specific radioactive isotopes. It relies on the known rates of decay of these isotopes to determine age.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Radiometric dating measures the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes.
2. The half-life of an isotope is crucial in radiometric dating, as it determines the rate at which the isotope decays.
3. Commonly used isotopes in radiometric dating include Carbon-14, Uranium-238, and Potassium-40.
4. Radiometric dating can be used to determine ages ranging from thousands to billions of years.
5. The accuracy of radiometric dating depends on proper sample collection and contamination avoidance.

Review Questions

• What is the principle behind radiometric dating?
• Name three isotopes commonly used in radiometric dating.
• Why is knowing the half-life of an isotope important for radiometric dating?

Related terms

Half-life:

The time required for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to decay.

Isotope:

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

Radioactive Decay:

The process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation.