Vocab #14 Mr. Addeo

Absolute dating describes the exact age of a rock as the number of years since it formed.

Relative dating estimates the age of a rock by comparing it to the ages of other rocks.

Carbon dating method used to date materials that were once living and exchanged carbon dioxide with the atmosphere.

Half-life the time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms to decay in a radioactive element.

Radioactive dating method used to date rocks and other objects based on the known decay rate of radioactive isotopes.