1. What Is Radiometric Dating?

Radiometric dating is a technique used to date materials such as rocks or carbon, based on the known decay rate of radioactive isotopes. It provides absolute ages for geological materials and archaeological artifacts.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the radiometric dating equation:

Where:

• \( \lambda \) — Decay constant (yr⁻¹)
• \( D \) — Amount of daughter isotope
• \( P \) — Amount of parent isotope
• \( \ln \) — Natural logarithm

Explanation: The equation calculates the time elapsed since the rock formed based on the ratio of daughter to parent isotopes and the known decay rate.

3. Importance Of Absolute Age Determination

Details: Absolute age determination is crucial for understanding geological time scales, dating fossils, establishing chronological sequences in archaeology, and studying Earth's history.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter the decay constant in years⁻¹, the amount of daughter isotope, and the amount of parent isotope. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the decay constant?
A: The decay constant (λ) represents the probability per unit time that a nucleus will decay. It's specific to each radioactive isotope.

Q2: Which isotopes are commonly used for radiometric dating?
A: Common pairs include Uranium-238 to Lead-206, Potassium-40 to Argon-40, and Carbon-14 to Nitrogen-14 for different time scales.

Q3: What is the half-life relationship?
A: Half-life (t₁/₂) = ln(2)/λ. The calculator uses the decay constant directly for more precise calculations.

Q4: What are the limitations of radiometric dating?
A: Assumes closed system (no loss/gain of isotopes), known initial conditions, and constant decay rate. Contamination can affect results.

Q5: How accurate is radiometric dating?
A: When properly applied to suitable materials, radiometric dating can provide highly accurate ages, often with precision of 1% or better.