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You suspect that a sample of rock dates from about 200,000 years ago. If you want to determine an absolute date for this rock, which dating method would you use? Please explain.

A. Principle of inclusions
B. Uranium/lead dating
C. Potassium/argon dating
D. Carbon/nitrogen dating

2 Answers

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Answer: C Potassium/argon dating

Explanation: you would use potassium argon dating

User Prospect
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Answer:

C. Potassium/argon dating

Step-by-step explanation:

When it comes to dating old objects, science use a variety of methods, most of them based on known and stable physical/chemical reactions.

A. Principle of inclusions states that if you basically find a rock inside another rock, the inner one is older. Doesn't help in this case.

B. Uranium/lead dating is used to date very very old stuff, like more than a million years old, up to 4.5 billions years - the age of our planet. If I suspect the rock is about 200,000 years, this won't do.

C. Potassium/argon dating is used to date rocks that are older than 100,000 years, so this would be the good technique to use.

D. Carbon/nitrogen dating is use to date stuff ranging from about 5,700 years to 50,000 years. Not useful in this case.

User Eduardo Ivanec
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