How to estimate Earth's age as 4.5 to 4.6 billion years
What will be an ideal response?
> Radiometric dating: using the naturally-occurring radioactive elements to determine the age. If we know the number of radioactive parent atoms present when a rock formed and the number present now, we can calculate the age of the rock using the decay constant.
> The number of parent atoms originally present is simply the number present now plus the number of daughter atoms formed by the decay, both of which are quantities that can be measured
You might also like to view...
Glacio-eustatic factors refer to
A) changes in the total amount of water on Earth. B) a steady-state equilibrium in the water system. C) changes in sea level related to the increase or decrease in quantities of ice. D) changes in sea level related to the melting of icebergs.
The higher the UV Index, the faster a person will sunburn
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
The solar nebula theory of the formation of the solar system accounts for the differences in composition between the terrestrial and Jovian planets.
a. true b. false
Mercury
A. is bio-concentrated (concentrations increase up the food chain), with the result that large fish like tuna may contain unacceptable levels. B. may be added to the atmosphere through the burning of coal, incineration of waste, smelting association with ore processing and processing of batteries. C. is most toxic to humans in the form of methyl mercury. D. is transferred from the atmosphere into water, where microorganisms transform it to methyl mercury. E. All of the choices are correct.