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How to Compare Relative & Radiometric Dating

Two common methods used for determining the ages of artifacts are relative dating and radiometric dating. Relative dating involves the concept of determining an approximate age of an artifact based on its location within structures, such as sedimentary rocks. Relative dating abides by the principle of supposition, which states that the lower the level of the rock strata, the older its age. The reason for this supposition is that the lower levels of the rock strata were formed before the upper layers of the rock strata. Radiometric dating involves the use of radioactive isotopes. An isotope is an element that possesses a different number of electrons. An an example of a radioactive isotope is Carbon 14. Radioactive isotopes are unstable, and therefore decay into more stable forms. The time that it takes for half of the sample to decay is known as the half life. By measuring the amount of the radioactive isotope within a given specimen, and putting this information into an equation involving the half life of the isotope, it is possible to determine the age of the specimen. When considering relative and radiometric dating, you may desire to compare them. You can compare relative and radiometric dating based on their uses, developments and overall contributions to science.

Things You'll Need

Periodic table

Instructions

- 1
  Compare relative dating and radiometric dating based on their uses. Both relative and radiometric dating are used to determine the age of an object or specimen, especially a specimen that existed many years ago. Relative dating and radiometric dating are often used to determine the ages of fossils. Fossils are very commonly found within rocks. By applying the principle of supposition for relative dating, a paleontologist can deduce the approximate period of time that the fossil was created. The specimen that the fossil represents most likely existed when the layer of rock it is embedded in was developed. The paleontologist will then apply radiometric dating based on the decay of a radioactive isotope found within the fossil. Within this process, the relative dating and the radiometric dating both help to establish valuable information about the age of the fossil.
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  Understand their development. The procedure of relative dating was utilized before the advent of radiometric dating. Nevertheless, for a long time, scientists were only able to determine the approximate ages of specimens, rather than an actual number. However, when radioactive decay was discovered, it was eventually applied to this concept of age determination as well. Relative dating allowed for the progression of radiometric dating because the approximate ages of the rock strata was the basis for the understanding that species evolved within different geologic periods. It allowed for the interest in discovering the specific ages of these specimens that existed within these periods.
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  Compare the contribution that relative and radiometric dating have made to the study of evolution. By discovering the relative and specific ages of the different specimens, scientists know that certain species of plants, animals, archaea and bacteria were associated with different geological periods. Without relative and radiometric dating, it would not be possible to deduce how organisms developed their complexity.
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  Study the location of some of the elements that have radioactive isotopes on the periodic table. Uranium and carbon are two such elements. Uranium can be found within igneous rocks. Both relative dating and radiometric dating involve the use of rocks. While relative dating is mostly associated with sedimentary rocks, radiometric dating is closely associated with igneous rocks.

Rocks & Minerals