The technique called radiometric dating is based on A The type of plant material that an animal consumed B The measurement of certain radioactive isotopes contained in fossils C The atomic isotopes of the rocks surrounding fossilized organisms D The amount of moisture found in the atmosphere when an organism dies
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Radiometric dating is a technique used to date materials such as rocks or carbon, in which trace radioactive impurities were selectively incorporated when they were formed. The method compares the abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope and its Show more…
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The technique called radiometric dating is based on the steady, clocklike decay of certain radioactive isotopes over time. The assumption is that radioactive isotopes accumulate in fossils at a constant rate. The formation of radioactive molecules in rocks occurs after they are deposited. The use of fossils of known age is used to determine how fast carbon-14 decays. Carbon decay only.
Madhur L.
(A): The archeological studies are based on the radioactive decay of carbon- 14 isotope. (R): The ratio of $\mathrm{C}-14$ to $\mathrm{C}-12$ in the animals and plants is same as that in the atmosphere.
Radiocarbon Dating Scientists can determine the age of ancient objects by the method of radiocarbon dating. The bombardment of the upper atmosphere by cosmic rays converts nitrogen to a radioactive isotope of carbon, ${ }^{14} \mathrm{C}$, with a half-life of about 5730 years. Vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide through the atmosphere and animal life assimilates ${ }^{14} \mathrm{C}$ through food chains. When a plant or animal dies, it stops replacing its carbon and the amount of ${ }^{14} \mathrm{C}$ present begins to decrease through radioactive decay. Therefore the level of radioactivity must also decay exponentially. Dinosaur fossils are too old to be reliably dated using carbon-14. Suppose we had a 68 -million-year-old dinosaur fossil. What fraction of the living dinosaur's ${ }^{14} \mathrm{C}$ would be remaining today? Suppose the minimum detectable mass is $0.1 \%$. What is the maximum age of a fossil that could be dated using ${ }^{14} \mathrm{C}$ ?
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