Absolute Dating Answers
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The graph shows calculations for potassium-argon dating.
A
They can estimate that all the potassium will have decayed within 6.5 billion years.B
They can tell that 1/8 of the argon gas will be left after 3.9 billion years.C
They can determine that a rock is 1.3 billion years old if 1/2 of the potassium has decayed.D
They can see that potassium’s half-life varies from every 1.3 billion years to every 5.2 billion years.2
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Which unstable element is used to determine the age of volcanic rock?
A
argonB
carbon-12C
potassiumD
carbon-143
How is radioactive decay used to date sedimentary rocks?
A
The amounts of potassium and argon in sedimentary rocks are measured.B
The amounts of carbon-14 and nitrogen in sedimentary rocks are measured.C
The amounts of unstable elements in each layer of the sedimentary rocks are compared.D
The amounts of unstable elements in the volcanic layers above and below the sedimentary layers are measured.4
Which phrase describes carbon-14 dating?
A
uses the rate at which nitrogen-14 decays into carbon-14B
dates the remains of organisms to determine when they diedC
measures the number of unstable elements in ancient volcanic rocksD
determines the age of ancient fossils older than 50,000 years old5
Which material undergoes radioactive decay?
A
all elements that have a half-lifeB
all elements that contain atoms with protonsC
all elements that have turned into a new elementD
all elements that have a consistent number of particles6
The chart shows rate of decay.
A
years of decayB
quantity of energyC
number of stable atomsD
amount of material that has not decayed7
Which values do scientists compare when using potassium-argon dating?
A
the number of stable and unstable parent atomsB
the number of non-decayed elements left in the rockC
the amount of parent and daughter material trapped in the rockD
the amount of gas from the decayed material that has escaped from rock8
Study the diagram of radioactive decay.
A
atoms and elementsB
elements and gasC
energy and particlesD
gas and atoms9
Which statement describes what happens to elements during radioactive decay?
A
They release energy.B
They gain new particles.C
They lose energy at a varying rate.D
They have a consistent number of particles.10
Which statement accurately describes radioactive dating?
A
Geologists use only one type of radioactive dating.B
Geologists compare parent and daughter elements to determine rock type.C
Geologists will measure how stable multiple parent elements can decay into multiple daughter elements.D
Geologist compare the observed abundance of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes and their decay products using decay rates.Did you find these answers helpful?
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