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- 1. Multiple Choice
A student drew the diagram below to show one kind of radioactive decay. Which of the following statements correctly describes this decay process?
Thorium-232 and lead-208 are both parent isotopes.
Thorium-232 and lead-208 are both daughter isotopes.
Thorium-232 is the parent isotope, and lead-208 is the daughter isotope.
Thorium-232 is the daughter isotope, and lead-208 is the parent isotope.
- 2. Multiple Choice
Sandra is making a poster of Earth’s geologic history. She wants to include a timeline on her poster. Which date should Sandra use at the beginning of her timeline, to show Earth’s formation in the solar system?
3.5 million years ago
700 million years ago
4.6 billion years ago
12 billion years ago
- 3. Multiple Choice
Which of these choices is the best definition of absolute dating?
finding the age of an object compared to other objects
measuring the age of an object in years using any method
determining the amount of a radioactive isotope in an object
determining the age of a rock layer by studying the fossils present
- 4. Multiple Choice
To determine when a volcano erupted, Michael used a sample of a mineral that formed when the lava cooled and became solid rock. He measured the amount of argon-40 in the sample to find how much potassium-40 had decayed since the rock formed. What else would Michael need to know to find the age of the mineral in years?
the half-life of potassium-40
the amount of energy released
the mass of a potassium-40 atom
the time it takes argon-40 to decay
- 5. Multiple Choice
Index fossils are used to date rock strata that would otherwise be very difficult to date. Which of these statements describes a key characteristic of index fossils?
They are similar to other fossils.
They existed in a unique location.
They existed for a short span of time.
They are present in very small numbers.
- 6. Multiple ChoiceThe length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay is its...eraagehalf-lifeeon
- 7. Multiple ChoiceRadiometric dating is possible because the rates of decay of radioactive isotopes _____.change over timechange from place to placeare constantvary widely
- 8. Multiple ChoiceIf the half-life of a radioactive group of atoms is 100 years, then how old is the rock if there have been two half-lives?25 years200 years400 years800 years
- 9. Multiple ChoiceWhat is the half-life of iodine-131?32 days8 days16 days24 days
- 10. Multiple Choice
The % of the parent isotope remaining after 2 Half Lives.
50%
25%
12.5%
6.25%
- 11. Multiple Choice
The % of the parent isotope remaining after 1 Half Life.
50%
25%
12.5%
6.25%
- 12. Multiple ChoiceRelative Dating dates rocks __________
Absolute Dating dates rocks __________exact age; sequencesequence; exact ageexact age; parent isotopesLaws; Isotopes - 13. Multiple ChoiceAs time passes, unstable parent materials decays into stablecarbondaughter materialuranium 238Argon
- 14. Multiple Choice
The __________of rocks is the numerical age and real age of rocks.
relative age
half-life
absolute age
earth age
- 15. Multiple Choice
All organisms contain the element_________, so it is used to find the ages of fossils.
carbon-14
carbon-12
carbon
carbon age
- 16. Multiple ChoiceHow does absolute age differ from relative age?only absolute dating indicates which rock is older than anotheronly absolute dating finds the age in yearsonly relative dating finds the age in years
- Answer choicesTagsAnswer choicesTags