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EnglandGeologyQuick questions
Module 4: Interpreting the past - Geochronology
Quick questions on Radiometric dating and half-life: radioactive decay, parent-daughter ratios and isotopic systems - OCR A-Level Geology
4short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is calculating an age from the parent-to-daughter ratio?Show answer
When a mineral crystallises it traps parent atoms but (ideally) no daughter. Over time, parent decays to daughter, so the parent-to-daughter ratio records the age. The method:
What is q1?Show answer
Define the half-life of a radioactive isotope. [1 mark]
What is q2?Show answer
A mineral has a parent-to-daughter ratio of . State how many half-lives have elapsed. [1 mark]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain why uranium-lead, not carbon-14, is used to date a billion year old rock. [2 marks]
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