Compare and contrast the attempts by James Ussher and Lord Kelvin to measure the age of Earth. Explain what they

did and why it was or was not scientific. What will be an ideal response?


James Ussher studied the genealogy of the Old Testament to determine a date for Earth’s
creation. This is not considered scientific, as the records he used relied on spiritual stories
and revelations that could neither be confirmed nor denied.
Lord Kelvin assumed Earth was initially molten and calculated how long it would take Earth
to cool from that state. Lord Kelvin’s calculations were more scientific because they relied on
data about the size of Earth, the melting temperature of rocks, and natural laws about the
rates of heat loss. Although his answer was incorrect, his methodology was scientific.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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