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Module 12 Relative and Absolute Dating

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4 views

Module 12 Relative and Absolute Dating

Uploaded by

angelromina436
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Science– Grade 12 Quarter 1 – Relative and Absolute Dating of Stratified Rocks

Describe the different methods (relative and absolute dating) to determine the age of
stratified rocks. (S11/12ES-Ie-26)

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Though most rocks were formed thousands or millions of years ago, scientists found a
way to determine their age to learn the different events that happened in the past.
The age of stratified rocks can be determined using two methods, the relative dating
and the absolute dating.
1. Relative dating. It is a method of determining the age of rocks in each layer by
identifying the relative order of previous events.
The determination of the relative ages of rocks are based on the following
principles:
a. Law of Superposition. It states that each layer of sediments is piled on top of
another layer making the one on top of the strata the youngest one, while the
layer at the bottom of the strata as the oldest.

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The age of rock is about 4.5 billion years old. Since some rocks on earth’s surface were
formed in different timelines, other isotopes with a different rate of decay are used like
potassium-40 (K-40) with a half-life of 1,251 billion years, uranium-235 with a half-life
of 700 million years, and carbon14 (C-14) with a half-life of 5730 years.

Example problem: Using potassium-40, calculate how long ago a rock was
formed if it has only 25% of potassium-40 found in similar rock formed today. Note
that the half life of potassium-40 is 1.251 billion years.
Solution:

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Bear this in mind…
• The Law of Horizontality states that sediments are deposited horizontally creating
horizontal strata.
• The Law of Superposition states that each layer of sediments is piled on top of
another layer making the one on top of the strata the youngest one, while the layer at
the bottom of the strata as the oldest.

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• Cross-cutting relationship states that the geologic feature that cuts another is
younger than the geologic feature it cuts.
• Age of rocks can be determined through relative dating or absolute dating.
• Relative dating is a method of determining the age of rocks in each layer by
identifying the relative order of previous events.
• Absolute dating is a method of determining the numerical age of rocks and fossils
using radioactive isotopes.
• Half - life is the amount of time it takes for one half of the isotope to decay.

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