Question

Radioactive dating techniques have demonstrated that Earth was formed approximately ________ years ago.

1) 10 billion

2) 46 million

3) 4.6 million

4) 4.6 billion

Answer 1

The age of the Earth, determined through radioactive dating techniques, is approximately 4.5 billion years. Therefore the correct answer is 4) 4.6 billion

Step-by-step explanation:

This age is calculated by dating the oldest rocks on Earth using uranium-238 dating. These rocks solidified once the Earth's surface had cooled to rock-formation temperatures. The age of the Earth, determined through radioactive dating techniques, is approximately 4.5 billion years.

There is a large body of evidence from other sources that supports this age, including Earth-bound and solar system characteristics. It is important to note that during Darwin's time, people believed the Earth was much younger, around 6,000 years old, but the fossil record proved otherwise.