# How is radiometric dating used

Rated 4.48/5 based on 987 customer reviews

Contrary to creationist claims, it is possible to make that determination, as the following will explain: By way of background, all atoms of a given element have the same number of protons in the nucleus; however, the number of neutrons in the nucleus can vary.

An atom with the same number of protons in the nucleus but a different number of neutrons is called an isotope.

The entire process of Radiocarbon dating depends on the decay of carbon-14.

This process begins when an organism is no longer able to exchange Carbon with their environment.

Carbon dating has shown that the cloth was made between 12 AD.

In contrast, living material exhibit an activity of 14 d/min.g.

Thus, using Equation $$\ref$$, $\ln \dfrac = (1.21 \times 10^) t \nonumber$ Thus, $t= \dfrac = 2 \times 10^3 \text \nonumber$ From the measurement performed in 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls were determined to be 2000 years old giving them a date of 53 BC, and confirming their authenticity.

By "age" we mean the elapsed time from when the mineral specimen was formed.

Radioactive elements "decay" (that is, change into other elements) by "half lives." If a half life is equal to one year, then one half of the radioactive element will have decayed in the first year after the mineral was formed; one half of the remainder will decay in the next year (leaving one-fourth remaining), and so forth.