Concept explainers
In the nineteenth century, the famous physicist Lord Kelvin made measurements of
The information that did not allow the Kelvin to correct estimate to Earth’s age.
Explanation of Solution
Introduction:
The amount of the radioactive material becomes half of initial amount in its half-life. So, the age of certain object can be found by calculating the amount of radioactive material in the sample of object.
The age prediction of any object by radioactive process is more accurate than other process. The age estimated by the heat transfer to Earth’s crust or any other process cannot provides the accurate result because these process are accurate only for the objects that have very small age. Lord Kelvin did not have the knowledge of radioactivity to avoid making his crronous estimate.
Conclusion:
Thus, Lord Kelvin did not know about the radioactivity until his estimate of Earth’s age.
Chapter 39 Solutions
Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Essential University Physics: Volume 2 (3rd Edition)
Essential University Physics (3rd Edition)
Tutorials in Introductory Physics
University Physics Volume 2
University Physics (14th Edition)
Physics: Principles with Applications
- College PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781305952300Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris VuillePublisher:Cengage LearningUniversity Physics (14th Edition)PhysicsISBN:9780133969290Author:Hugh D. Young, Roger A. FreedmanPublisher:PEARSONIntroduction To Quantum MechanicsPhysicsISBN:9781107189638Author:Griffiths, David J., Schroeter, Darrell F.Publisher:Cambridge University Press
- Physics for Scientists and EngineersPhysicsISBN:9781337553278Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningLecture- Tutorials for Introductory AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9780321820464Author:Edward E. Prather, Tim P. Slater, Jeff P. Adams, Gina BrissendenPublisher:Addison-WesleyCollege Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Editio...PhysicsISBN:9780134609034Author:Randall D. Knight (Professor Emeritus), Brian Jones, Stuart FieldPublisher:PEARSON