explain the principle of radioactive dating?
Answers
Answer: it is a method used to date rocks based on the known decay rate of radioactive isotopes that are found within the rocks.
Explanation: To be more specific, it is a method used to date rocks based on the known decay rate of radioactive isotopes that are found within the rocks. This decay rate is referring to radioactive decay, which is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by releasing radiation.
It depends on the decay of the radioactive isotope carbon-14 (radiocarbon) to nitrogen.
Carbon dating is a method to estimate the age of carbon containing materials like trees. Carbon (C) has three naturally occurring isotopes. Both C-12 and C-13 are stable, but C-14 decay to nitrogen-14 with a half-life of approximately 5,730 years. Animals and plants naturally incorporate both the C-12 and C-14 during their lifetimes. When a creature dies, it ceases to consume more radiocarbon while the C-14 already in its body continues to decay back into nitrogen. With the help of C-12 to C-14 ratio, we can estimate the age of dead plants/ animals.