Campbell Essential Biology (6th Edition) - standalone book
Campbell Essential Biology (6th Edition) - standalone book
6th Edition
ISBN: 9780133917789
Author: Eric J. Simon, Jean L. Dickey, Jane B. Reece, Kelly A. Hogan
Publisher: PEARSON
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Textbook Question
Book Icon
Chapter 14, Problem 8SQ

A paleontologist estimates that when a particular rock formed, it contained 12 mg of the radioactive isotope potassium-40. The rock now contains 3 mg of potassium-40. The half-life of potassium-40 is 1.3 billion years. From this information, you can conclude that the rock is approximately _____ billion years old.

Blurred answer
Students have asked these similar questions
Radiometric dating does not measure the age of an individual atom. It is a measure of the age of a quantity of atoms—a statistic. As with any statistical measure, its values may deviate around an average (sampling error, Section 1.8). Imagine that one sample of rock is dated ten different ways. Nine of the tests yield an age close to 225,000 years. One test yields an age of 3.2 million years. Do the nine consistent results imply that the one that deviates is incorrect, or does the one odd result invalidate the nine that are consistent?
A fossil is found to contain the radioactive parent and daughter isotopes uranium 235U, and lead 207Pb, in the ratio 12.5% to 87.5%. Assuming that no 207Pb was present when the fossil first formed, estimate the age of this sample.Please show some thought process and a therefore statement. Thank you very much, have a great day!
A rock sample which originally contained 400 grams of radioactive isotope X now contains 25 grams of the material. The half-life of isotope X is 10,000 years. How old is the rock sample? (Give your answer without any punctuation or lables. For example: 15000).
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biology
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...
Biology
ISBN:9781305117396
Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
BIOLOGY:CONCEPTS+APPL.(LOOSELEAF)
Biology
ISBN:9781305967359
Author:STARR
Publisher:CENGAGE L
Fossil: The Language & History of Paleontology; Author: Alliterative;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9yNwRBlKtU;License: Standard youtube license