Question

Which of the following best explains the concept of radioactive dating?

Radioactive elements decay at a rate that is directly proportional to temperature, and scientists can compare the amount of a radioisotope at different temperatures to determine a sample’s age.
Radioactive elements break down at an unpredictable rate, and scientists measure the amount of a radioisotope and compare it to the concentration of other radioisotopes to determine a sample’s age.
Radioactive elements break down at a predictable rate, and scientists compare the amount of a radioisotope to its decay products to determine the sample’s age.
Radioactive elements decay at a rate that is inversely proportion to pressure, and scientists can measure the amount of radioisotope in different rock layers to determine a sample’s age.

Answer 1

The correct answer is Radioactive elements break down at a predictable rate, and scientists compare the amount of a radioisotope to its decay products to determine the sample’s age.

Explanation: I just took the quiz and this was the correct answer.

Answer 2

The right answer is C.

Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method based on the measurement of the radiological activity of carbon 14 (14C) contained in the organic matter of which we wish to know the absolute age, that is to say the time elapsed since the death of the organism (animal or vegetable) that constitutes it.

The field of use of this method corresponds to absolute ages of a few hundred years up to, and at most, 50,000 years.