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Which phrase describes carbon-14 dating?

uses the rate at which nitrogen-14 decays into carbon-14

dates the remains of organisms to determine when they died

measures the number of unstable elements in ancient volcanic rocks

determines the age of ancient fossils older than 50,000 years old

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Which is the correct formula for calculating the age of a meteorite if using half-life?

Age of object =

Age of object =

Age of object =

Age of object =

Which stable element is used to determine the age of volcanic rock?

argon

carbon-14

potassium

carbon-12

Which phrase describes the element carbon-14?

decays at an unknown rate

found in an organism’s remains

forms from the breakdown of nitrogen-14

is measured to determine the age of sedimentary rocks

Which unstable element is used to determine the age of volcanic rock?

argon

carbon-12

potassium

carbon-14

How is radioactive decay used to date sedimentary rocks?

The amounts of potassium and argon in sedimentary rocks are measured.

The amounts of carbon-14 and nitrogen in sedimentary rocks are measured.

The amounts of unstable elements in each layer of the sedimentary rocks are compared.

The amounts of unstable elements in the volcanic layers above and below the sedimentary layers are measured.

Which statement describes what happens to elements during radioactive decay?

They release energy.

They gain new particles.

They lose energy at a varying rate.

They have a consistent number of particles.

The chart shows rate of decay.

years of decay

quantity of energy

number of stable atoms

amount of material that has not decayed

Study the diagram of radioactive decay.

atoms and elements

elements and gas

energy and particles

gas and atoms

Which statement explains why carbon-14 dating cannot be used to date ancient rocks?

Carbon-14 decays at a varying rate.

Carbon-14 decays quickly leaving the amount too small to measure.

Carbon-14 can be used only to date the remains of organisms.

Carbon-14 has a half-life that is much longer than potassium.

What is the age of a meteorite if potassium-40 decayed from 80 g to 10 g? The half-life of potassium-40 is 1.3 billion years.

1.3 billion years

2.6 billion years

3.9 billion years

5.2 billion years

The graph shows calculations for potassium-argon dating.

They can estimate that all the potassium will have decayed within 6.5 billion years.

They can tell that 1/8 of the argon gas will be left after 3.9 billion years.

They can determine that a rock is 1.3 billion years old if 1/2 of the potassium has decayed.

They can see that potassium’s half-life varies from every 1.3 billion years to every 5.2 billion years.

Which phrase describes one characteristic of radioactive elements?

are produced in a laboratory

decay at a constant rate

have a consistent number of particles

release energy and particles to maintain radioactivity

Which statement accurately describes radioactive dating?

Geologists use only one type of radioactive dating.

Geologists compare parent and daughter elements to determine rock type.

Geologists will measure how stable multiple parent elements can decay into multiple daughter elements.

Geologist compare the observed abundance of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes and their decay products using decay rates.

Which statement explains how determining the age of the remains of living things is similar to dating rocks?

Organisms and rocks both contain stable and unstable elements.

Organisms contain the same unstable elements as those found in rocks.

Elements in rocks decay at the same rate as elements in the remains of organisms.

Rocks and organisms both have gases trapped inside that are measured to determine age.

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