Chapter 1. Chapter 8: Radiometric Dating

Introduction

Graphic Content Activities

Use the data presented in the graph to answer each question in this exercise.

Question

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4
Right! As indicated by its title, this graph is about radiometric dating, the process by which scientists can determine the age of rocks and the fossils in them by measuring the amount of radioactive isotopes that are present. The graph shows that, over time, uranium-238 isotopes gradually break down into stable compounds.
No. Try again.

Question

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The independent variable, time, is shown on the x-axis. Good job!
No. Try again.

Question

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4
The bright green portion indicates the amount of radioactive isotopes that remain as time passes.
No. Try again.

Question

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4
The graph shows that 50% of the radioactive isotopes remain after 4.5 billion years, which means the half-life of uranium-238 is 4.5 billion years. Good job!
No. Try again.

Question

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4
Correct! As you just determined, the half-life of uranium-238 is 4.5 billion years. So every 4.5 billion years, the amount of radioactive isotopes decreases by half. (After 4.5 billion years, you'd have 50% remaining; after 9 billion years, you'd have 25% remaining; after 13.5 billion years, you'd have 12.5% remaining; and so on.) Plotting these points on a graph creates a curved line, as shown here.
No. Try again.

Question

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4
Right. According to the graph, about 50% of the isotopes would remain today.
No. Try again.

Question

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4
Right! After 9 billion years, 25% of the original isotopes would remain.
No. Try again.

Question

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4
Right. 150 grams X 25% (the percentage of radioactive isotope remaining after 9 billion years) = 37.5 grams.
No. Try again.

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