ASBOG Practice Exam

Why is radiometric age dating often referred to as absolute age dating?

1. It provides a relative dating of samples

2. It gives a specific age or range of ages

3. It only dates volcanic rocks

4. It utilizes fossil records for comparison

The correct answer is: It gives a specific age or range of ages

Radiometric age dating is referred to as absolute age dating because it provides a specific age or a range of ages for geological materials based on the decay of radioactive isotopes within those materials. This method allows scientists to quantify the time that has elapsed since a rock or mineral formed, thus offering a precise timeline that can be expressed in years. The other options do not adequately describe the primary function of radiometric age dating. Relative dating methods do not assign specific ages but rather place events in chronological order based on their position in the rock layers. While volcanic rocks can be dated using radiometric techniques, the method is not limited solely to these types of rocks; it applies to a wide variety of materials. Lastly, utilizing fossil records is a characteristic of relative dating methods, which depend on the identification and sequenced occurrence of fossils to determine the age of rocks, contrasting with the absolute measurements obtained through radiometric methods.