Unit Six - Geologic Time - Absolute Dating Flashcards
1
Q
What is Absolute Dating?
A
Using radioactive decay to determine the exact age of a rock, fossil or event.
2
Q
What is Radioactive Decay?
A
The disintegration of an isotope overtime.
3
Q
What are isotopes?
A
Variations of an element that have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons.
Example
Stable Carbon has a mass of 12 units called Carbon - 12
Unstable Carbon has a mass of 14 units called Carbon - 14
4
Q
What is a Half - Life?
A
Time required for half of a radioactive product to decay into a stable product.
5
Q
THE HALF LIFE IS NEVER AFFECTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES
A
SUCH A TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE, OR CHEMICAL CHANGES
