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Unravel the mysteries of time with radioactive dating! Discover how elements transform through decay, learn about half-life, and explore methods like Potassium-Argon and Carbon-14 dating to determine the absolute age of rocks and fossils. With the help of these techniques, uncover the secrets hidden within Earth's geological past.
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Section 8-3 Radioactive Dating
Intro To Matter • Elements – the simplest form of matter (i.e. Hydrogen (H) or Oxygen (O) • Atoms – the smallest particle of an element • Compounds – two or more elements bonded together (i.e. H2O) • Molecules – the smallest unit of a compound • The Periodic Table Example
Radioactive Decay • When atoms of an element break down (decay) to form another element • Half-life • The amount of time it takes for half of the radioactive element to decay • Used to determine the absolute age (age in years) of rocks
Determining Absolute Age • Potassium-Argon Dating • Used to date rocks because the half-life is 1.3 billion years • Example: • Carbon-14 Dating • Used to date the fossils of living things because it’s half-life is 5,730 years • Example: