Methods Of Dating

Question 1

How old is the earth

Answer 1

4,55 billion years old

Question 2

Relative dating

Answer 2

When a palaeontologist studies fossils, he already knows that rock layers below are older and the ones above are younger. He will not know the definite age but can judge

Question 3

Indirect method to date fossils and rocks

Answer 3

1. Relative dating
2. Paleomagnetic dating
3. Fauna comparisons
4. Dendrochronological comparisons

Question 4

Paleomagnetic dating

Answer 4

Some types of rock contain magnetic components. Because the earth has magnetic poles, particles of these rock components are arranged in a certain way. Researchers know the tempo at which the the magnet poles of the earth change and compare it to the orientation of these partickesb

Question 5

Direct methods to date rocks and fossils

Answer 5

Radiometric dating

Question 6

Radiometric dating:

1. What is it
2. How does it work

Answer 6

1. Radiometric dating is an absolute method because the age of rocks and fossils can be determined accurately. This method is based on the tempo of radioactive decay
2. Rocks contain radioactive isotopes of certain elements, these radioactive isotopes decay at a constant rate. The age of rocks can be determined by studying the ratio of radioactive isotopes to their stable forms

Question 7

Background of the earth

Answer 7

• life on earth originated 4600 mya
• warm water sprouts occurred on the sea floor
• the moon already existed and the Oceans were subject to tides
• the atmosphere consisted of carbon dioxide and water vapour
• there were various organic components (including amino acids) brought by meteorites and comets
• life probably started as an organic molecule with the ability to replicate itself, probably used RNA