Question

We can find the actual age of features on a world by a. radioactive dating of rocks retrieved from the world. b. comparing cratering rates on one world to those on another. c. assuming that all features on a planetary surface are the same age. d. both a and b. e. both b and c.

Name: Problem 18, Chapter 6: Understanding Our Universe
Uploaded: 2020-06-20T19:45:44-08:00
Duration: 41 s
Channel: Zachary Warner
Description: We can find the actual age of features on a world by a. radioactive dating of rocks retrieved from the world. b. comparing cratering rates on one world to those on another. c. assuming that all features on a planetary surface are the same age. d. both a and b. e. both b and c.

   We can find the actual age of features on a world by
a. radioactive dating of rocks retrieved from the world.
b. comparing cratering rates on one world to those on another.
c. assuming that all features on a planetary surface are the same age.
d. both a and b.
e. both b and c.

Understanding Our Universe

Stacy Palen, Laura… 1st Edition

Chapter 6, Problem 18

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Zachary Warner

06/20/2020

Step 1

Radioactive dating of rocks retrieved from the world can help determine the age of features on a world. This is because radioactive isotopes decay at a known rate, and by measuring the remaining isotopes in a rock sample, we can calculate how long it has been Show more…

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We can find the actual age of features on a world by a. radioactive dating of rocks retrieved from the world. b. comparing cratering rates on one world to those on another. c. assuming that all features on a planetary surface are the same age. d. both a and b. e. both b and c.

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Key Concepts

Radioactive Dating

A method that involves measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes within rock samples to determine the age of rocks and surfaces. This technique provides an absolute age by comparing the known decay rate of certain isotopes to their current abundance in a sample, which is crucial in determining the timeline of geological events on planetary bodies.

Crater Counting and Comparative Cratering Rates

This method estimates the relative ages of planetary surfaces by analyzing the density and distribution of impact craters. By comparing cratering rates on different regions or on different planetary bodies, scientists can infer which areas are older or younger, which is an essential technique when direct sampling is not possible.

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