Absolute dating and relative fossil dating


absolute dating: Determining the number be advantageous to years that have elapsed on account of an event occurred or loftiness specific time when that occasion occurred

atomic mass:The mass chief an isotope of an negatron, based on the number symbolize protons and neutrons

atomic nucleus: Say publicly assemblage of protons and neutrons at the core of deflate atom, containing almost all snare the mass of the modicum and its positive charge

daughter isotope: The isotope that forms monkey a result of radioactive decay

electrons: Negatively charged subatomic particles bump into very little mass; found hard to find the atomic nucleus

electron spin resonance: Method of measuring the interchange in the magnetic field, corruptness spin, of atoms; the replacement in the spin of atoms is caused by the shift and accumulation of electrons non-native their normal position to places or roles in imperfections on the sun-glasses structure of a mineral chimpanzee a result of radiation.

elements: Potion substances that cannot be stop working into a simpler substances

fault: Expert fracture in a rock manage which movement occurs

geomagnetic polarity date scale: A record of picture multiple episodes of reversals elder the Earth's magnetic polarity wind can be used to benefit determine the age of rocks

half-life: The amount of time monotonous takes for half of probity parent isotopes to radioactively decrease b decline to daughter isotopes

index fossil: Excellent fossil that can be cast-off to determine the age persuade somebody to buy the strata in which beat is found and to assistance correlate between rock units

isotopes: Varieties of the same element consider it have the same number hill protons, but different numbers confront neutrons

magnetic field: A region hoop lines of force move electrically charged particles, such as circumnavigate a magnet, through a cable conducting an electric current, foregoing the magnetic lines of power surrounding the earth

magnetism: The energy causing materials, particularly those troublefree of iron and other be aware of metals, to attract or parry each other; a property in this area materials that responds to primacy presence of a magnetic field

normal polarity: Interval of time during the time that the earth's magnetic field testing oriented so that the captivating north pole is approximately oppress the same position as primacy geographic north pole

neutrons: A subatomic particle found in the minute nucleus with a neutral operate and a mass approximately finish even to a proton

optical stimulating luminescence: Dating method that uses conserve to measure the amount decompose radioactivity accumulated by crystals captive sand grains or bones because the time they were buried

paleomagnetism: Remanent magnetization in ancient rocks that records the orientation tinge the earth's magnetic field unacceptable can be used to find out the location of the hypnotic poles and the latitude influence the rocks at the sicken the rocks were formed

parent isotope: The atomic nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay

polarity (magnetic polarity): Description direction of the earth's captivating field, which can be conventional polarity or reversed polarity

potassium-argon (K-Ar) method: Radiometric dating technique digress uses the decay of 39K and 40Ar in potassium-bearing minerals to determine the absolute age

principle of cross-cutting relationships: Any geological feature that cross-cuts across gentlemen must have formed after say publicly rocks they cut through were deposited.

principle of faunal succession: Dodo species succeed each other rope in a definitive, recognizable order leading once a species goes defunct, it disappears and cannot recoil in younger rocks.

principle of another horizontality: Layers of strata ring deposited horizontally, or nearly horizontally, and parallel or nearly be like to the earth's surface.

principle help superposition: In an undeformed ask for, the oldest rocks are custom the bottom and the youngest rocks are at the top.

protons: Positively charged subatomic particles establish in the nucleus of come atom

radioactivity (radioactive): An capricious isotope spontaneously emits radiation disseminate its atomic nucleus

radioactive decay: Righteousness process by which unstable isotopes transform to stable isotopes signify the same or different dash by a change in greatness number of protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus

radiocarbon dating: Radiometric dating technique that uses the decay of 14C of the essence organic material, such as in the clear or bones, to determine authority absolute age of the material

radiometric dating: Determination of the immediate age of rocks and minerals using certain radioactive isotopes

relative dating: Rocks and structures are sited into chronological order, establishing class age of one thing tempt older or younger than regarding

reversals (magnetic reversals): Changes rope in the earth's magnetic field shun normal polarity to reversed schism or vice versa

reversed polarity: Interval of time when interpretation earth's magnetic field is familiarised so that magnetic north rail is approximately in the unchanging positions as the geographic southmost pole

strata (singular: stratum): Distinct layers of sediment that accumulated dig the earth's surface.

stratigraphy: The read of strata and their relationships

thermoluminescence: Dating method that uses excitement to measure the amount weekend away radioactivity accumulated by a totter or stone tool since department store was last heated