radiometric dating

Chemistry

(noun)

A technique used to date materials such as rocks, based on a comparison between the observed abundance of a naturally occurring radioisotope and its decay products, using known decay rates.

Related Terms

  • allotropes
  • isochron
  • half-life

(noun)

A technique used to date materials by comparing the natural abundance of radioactive atoms to their remaining decay products.

Related Terms

  • allotropes
  • isochron
  • half-life
Physics

(noun)

Radiometric dating is a technique used to date objects based on a comparison between the observed abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope and its decay products using known decay rates.

Related Terms

  • carbon-14
  • radioisotope

Examples of radiometric dating in the following topics:

  • Dating Using Radioactive Decay

    • Radiometric dating is used to date materials using the decay rate of a radioactive isotope.
    • Radiometric dating, often called radioactive dating, is a technique used to determine the age of materials such as rocks.
    • The best-known radiometric dating techniques include radiocarbon dating, potassium-argon dating, and uranium-lead dating.
    • The different methods of radiometric dating are accurate over different timescales, and they are useful for different materials.
    • In these cases, the half-life of interest in radiometric dating is usually the longest one in the chain.
  • Half-Life and Rate of Decay; Carbon-14 Dating

    • Carbon-14 dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the radioisotope carbon-14 (14C) to estimate the age of object.
    • Radiocarbon dating (usually referred to simply as carbon-14 dating) is a radiometric dating method.
    • Such raw ages can be calibrated to give calendar dates.
    • He demonstrated the accuracy of radiocarbon dating by accurately estimating the age of wood from a series of samples for which the age was known, including an ancient Egyptian royal barge dating from 1850 BCE.
    • Identify the age of materials that can be approximately determined using radiocarbon dating
  • Carbon Dating and Estimating Fossil Age

    • Paleontologists rely on stratigraphy to date fossils.
    • Together with stratigraphic principles, radiometric dating methods are used in geochronology to establish the geological time scale.
    • Beds that preserve fossils typically lack the radioactive elements needed for radiometric dating ("radiocarbon dating" or simply "carbon dating").
    • Radioactive elements are common only in rocks with a volcanic origin, so the only fossil-bearing rocks that can be dated radiometrically are volcanic ash layers.
    • Radiometric dating is a technique used to date materials such as rocks or carbon, usually based on a comparison between the observed abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope and its decay products, using known decay rates.
  • Isotopes

    • Because the half-life of 14C is long, it is used to date formerly-living objects such as old bones or wood.
    • This technique is called radiocarbon dating, or carbon dating for short.
    • Scientists often use these other radioactive elements to date objects that are older than 50,000 years (the limit of carbon dating).
    • Through the use of radiometric dating, scientists can study the age of fossils or other remains of extinct organisms.
    • Discuss the properties of isotopes and their use in radiometric dating
  • Properties of Carbon

    • It is used in radiometric dating to determine the age of carbonaceous samples (of physical or biological origin) up to about 60,000 years old.
  • The Fossil Record as Evidence for Evolution

    • The development of radiometric dating techniques in the early 20th century allowed geologists to determine the numerical or "absolute" age of various strata and their included fossils.
  • The Origins of Archaea and Bacteria

    • This estimate is based on evidence from radiometric dating of meteorite material together with other substrate material from earth and the moon.
    • Although probable prokaryotic cell fossils date to almost 3.5 billion years ago, most prokaryotes do not have distinctive morphologies; fossil shapes cannot be used to identify them as Archaea.
    • Some publications suggest that archaean or eukaryotic lipid remains are present in shales dating from 2.7 billion years ago.
  • Maturity Date

    • Maturity date refers to the final payment date of a loan or other financial instrument.
    • In finance, maturity date or redemption date, refers to the final payment date of a loan or other financial instrument, at which point the principal (and all remaining interest) is due to be paid.
    • The issuer has to repay the nominal amount on the maturity date.
    • In this case, the maturity date is the day when the bond is called.
    • Similarly, the maturity date, if applicable, is the date as the bond is redeemed.
  • Dividends Payable

    • On the dividend declaration date, a company's board of directors announces its intention to pay a dividend to shareholders on record as of a certain date (date of record).
    • On the declaration date, the Board announces the date of record and a payment date; the payment date is the date when the funds are sent to the shareholders and the dividends payable account is reduced for the payment amount.
  • Call Provisions

    • A callable bond allows the issuer to redeem the bond before the maturity date; this is likely to happen when interest rates go down.
    • Call dates are the dates on which callable bonds can be redeemed early.
    • A Bermudan callable has several call dates, usually coinciding with coupon dates.
    • A European callable has only one call date.
    • An American callable can be called at any time until the maturity date.
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