Final answer:
The method of using radioactive decay to measure the absolute age of rocks is called radioactive dating. It involves estimating the original number of nuclei in the material and the present number of nuclei after decay to calculate the total time of decay.
Step-by-step explanation:
The method of using radioactive decay to measure the absolute age of rocks is called radioactive dating.
Radioactive dating is a technique that uses naturally occurring radioactivity to determine the age of a material, such as a rock or an ancient artifact. It involves estimating the original number of nuclei in the material and the present number of nuclei after decay to calculate the total time of decay.
This method is possible because radioactive materials decay at a known rate, allowing scientists to measure the level of radioactive decay of certain elements in rocks and fossils to determine their age.