%Absolute Age Dating Flashcards
What is an atom?
An atom is the smallest part of an element that has all the properties of the element. Each atom contains smaller particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons are in an atom’s nucleus. Electrons surround the nucleus.
What is absolute age?
Absolute age to mean the numerical age, in years, of a rock or object.
What are isotopes?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.
What is radioactive decay and radioactive isotopes?
Some isotopes are unstable. These isotopes are known as radioactive isotopes. Radioactive isotopes decay, or change, over time. As they decay, they release energy and form new, stable atoms. Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable element naturally changes into another element that is stable.
Explain the parent and daughter isotopes.
The unstable isotope that decays is called the parent isotope. The new element that forms is called the daughter isotope.
What is half-life?
An isotope’s half-life is the time required for half of the parent isotopes to decay into daughter isotopes.
What is radiocarbon dating useful for?
Radiocarbon dating is useful only for dating organic material—material from once-living organisms. This material includes bones, wood, parchment, and charcoal. Most rocks do not contain organic material. Even most fossils are no longer organic.
