Absolute Age Dating Flashcards
How do you determine the absolute age of a rock?
A property of radioactivity
What do radioactive materials do?
Unstable and break down, emitting energized particles
When this happens, the atom has DECAYED
What do atoms consist of?
A nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by shells of electrons
Protons= Positive
Neutrons= Neutral
Electrons= Negative
How are elements defined?
By their NUMBER OF PROTONS
What does an alpha particle consist of?
2 PROTONS 2 NEUTRONS
EX. Losing 2 protons drops the element by 2 numbers
What does decay do to an atom?
The ejection of several types of particles, either protons, neutrons, or both
What are isotopes?
What’s an example of an unstable isotope?
What do you call an unstable isotope?
A variant of a particular element
Certain Isotopes are unstable, they are labeled as radioactive isotopes
EX. CARBON 14 UNSTABLE
What do you call an isotope before and after it decays due to it losing protons?
Original Isotope : Parent Isotope
Resulting Isotope: Daughter Isotope
What is a half-life?
The time to decrease the existing number of parent isotopes by 50% through decay
What will the ratio of parent and daughter isotopes always add up to?
FULL 100%
How do you find the age of a rock in regard to half lives? Calculation
(# of half lives) x (duration of half life) = age
