AnswersMOHEGAN - EARTH SCIENCE AAbsolute Dating

Absolute Dating Answers

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1
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Study the diagram of radioactive decay.

Question illustration
A
atoms and elements
B
elements and gas
C
energy and particles
D
gas and atoms
2
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Which stable element is used to determine the age of volcanic rock?

A
argon
B
carbon-14
C
potassium
D
carbon-12
3

Which phrase describes carbon-14 dating?

A
uses the rate at which nitrogen-14 decays into carbon-14
B
dates the remains of organisms to determine when they died
C
measures the number of unstable elements in ancient volcanic rocks
D
determines the age of ancient fossils older than 50,000 years old
4

Which statement accurately describes radioactive dating?

A
Geologists use only one type of radioactive dating.
B
Geologists compare parent and daughter elements to determine rock type.
C
Geologists will measure how stable multiple parent elements can decay into multiple daughter elements.
D
Geologist compare the observed abundance of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes and their decay products using decay rates.
5

Which phrase describes one characteristic of radioactive elements?

A
are produced in a laboratory
B
decay at a constant rate
C
have a consistent number of particles
D
release energy and particles to maintain radioactivity
6

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

A
Organisms and rocks both contain stable and unstable elements.
B
Organisms contain the same unstable elements as those found in rocks.
C
Elements in rocks decay at the same rate as elements in the remains of organisms.
D
Rocks and organisms both have gases trapped inside that are measured to determine age.
7

The chart shows rate of decay.

Question illustration
A
years of decay
B
quantity of energy
C
number of stable atoms
D
amount of material that has not decayed
8

How is radioactive decay used to date sedimentary rocks?

A
The amounts of potassium and argon in sedimentary rocks are measured.
B
The amounts of carbon-14 and nitrogen in sedimentary rocks are measured.
C
The amounts of unstable elements in each layer of the sedimentary rocks are compared.
D
The amounts of unstable elements in the volcanic layers above and below the sedimentary layers are measured.
9

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

A
argon
B
carbon-14
C
potassium
D
carbon-12
10

Which material undergoes radioactive decay?

A
all elements that have a half-life
B
all elements that contain atoms with protons
C
all elements that have turned into a new element
D
all elements that have a consistent number of particles
11

The graph shows calculations for potassium-argon dating.

Question illustration
A
They can estimate that all the potassium will have decayed within 6.5 billion years.
B
They can tell that 1/8 of the argon gas will be left after 3.9 billion years.
C
They can determine that a rock is 1.3 billion years old if 1/2 of the potassium has decayed.
D
They can see that potassium’s half-life varies from every 1.3 billion years to every 5.2 billion years.
12

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

A
Organisms and rocks both contain stable and unstable elements.
B
Organisms contain the same unstable elements as those found in rocks.
C
Elements in rocks decay at the same rate as elements in the remains of organisms.
D
Rocks and organisms both have gases trapped inside that are measured to determine age.
13

The chart shows rate of decay.

Question illustration
A
years of decay
B
quantity of energy
C
number of stable atoms
D
amount of material that has not decayed
14

How is radioactive decay used to date sedimentary rocks?

A
The amounts of potassium and argon in sedimentary rocks are measured.
B
The amounts of carbon-14 and nitrogen in sedimentary rocks are measured.
C
The amounts of unstable elements in each layer of the sedimentary rocks are compared.
D
The amounts of unstable elements in the volcanic layers above and below the sedimentary layers are measured.
15

Which statement accurately describes radioactive dating?

A
Geologists use only one type of radioactive dating.
B
Geologists compare parent and daughter elements to determine rock type.
C
Geologists will measure how stable multiple parent elements can decay into multiple daughter elements.
D
Geologist compare the observed abundance of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes and their decay products using decay rates.
16

Which property of argon makes it useful for potassium-argon dating?

A
It decays into potassium.
B
It is an unstable element.
C
It remains trapped in rock.
D
It is useful only for dating newer rock.
17

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

A
argon
B
carbon-12
C
potassium
D
carbon-14
18

Which statement describes what happens to elements during radioactive decay?

A
They release energy.
B
They gain new particles.
C
They lose energy at a varying rate.
D
They have a consistent number of particles.

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