Chronology

Question 1

Types of Decay

Answer 1

-Alpha: 2 protons and 2 neutrons emitted
-Beta: A neutron changes to a proton and 1 electron emitted
-Electron capture: A proton captures an electron to become a neutron

Question 2

Radioactive Elements
What assumptions must be made?

Answer 2

-Closed system (No new parent, 0 daughter)
-Known initial values
-Accurate measurements
-Other specific to method

Question 3

With 14C, what corrections can be made?

Answer 3

-Devries Effect - Solar variation
-Seuss Effect - Addition of “ Dead Carbon” released from fossil fuel burning

Question 4

What is 14C Correlated with?

Answer 4

-Tree rings
-Coral rings
-Varves

Question 5

For K-Ar what is it used for?

Answer 5

Date basalts for determining age, magnetic time scale

Question 6

What problem does K-Ar have and what corrections can you do?

Answer 6

-Problems:
Bathymetric pressure
-Correction:
Correlation to land estimates