Answer:
Scientists estimate the age of the Earth to be approximately 4.5 billion years old based on several lines of evidence. This includes radiometric dating of rocks, which uses the decay of isotopes of certain elements to determine the age of the rock. Meteorites, which are believed to have formed at the same time as the solar system, also provide age information. Additionally, the ages of moon rocks brought back by the Apollo missions provide independent confirmation of the Earth's age. Other lines of evidence, such as the ages of the oldest minerals on Earth and the time it took for the Earth's magnetic field to stabilize, also support this age estimate. The convergence of all these lines of evidence leads scientists to conclude that the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old.
Knowing the age of the Earth is important for understanding the evolution of our planet and its place in the solar system. By determining the age of the Earth, scientists can also study the processes that have shaped and changed the Earth over time, such as mountain building, plate tectonics, and the evolution of life. The age of the Earth also has implications for broader scientific questions, such as the origin of the solar system and the evolution of the universe. In addition, understanding the age of the Earth allows scientists to put events in Earth's history, such as mass extinctions and the evolution of life, into a chronological framework. All these reasons make it important for scientists to determine the age of the Earth.