Radioactive Dating Flashcards
What is Radioactive dating?
Radioactive dating is a method to find out how old something is.
What are isotopes?
Isotopes are versions of the atom with extra neutrons in them.
What are parent and daughter isotopes?
You start off with an unstable radioactive element which is usually referred to as the “parent”. The parent isotope then decays into a stable isotope referred to as the ‘daughter’. Over time the number of parent atoms decreases and the number of daughter atoms increases.
How does radioactive dating work?
When a rock forms it contains an unstable isotope (parent) and no stable isotope (daughter). However over time through radioactive decay, the number of parent isotopes decreases, and the number of daughter isotopes increases. In order for radioactive decay to be reliable the rock has to be closed to ensure that no parent or daughter isotope leaves or enters the rock. To determine the date of the rock you can use the ratio of the parent to daughter atoms.
