Radiometric dating, which relies on the predictable decay of radioactive isotopes of carbon, uranium, potassium, and other elements, provides accurate age estimates for events back to the formation of Earth more than 4.5 billion years ago.

What is radiometric dating in evolution?

Geologists use radiometric dating to estimate how long ago rocks formed, and to infer the ages of fossils contained within those rocks. When molten rock cools, forming what are called igneous rocks, radioactive atoms are trapped inside. Afterwards, they decay at a predictable rate.

What is the significance of radioactive dating?

By establishing geological timescales, radiometric dating provides a significant source of information about the ages of fossils and rates of evolutionary change, and it is also used to date archaeological materials, including ancient artifacts.

Why is the process of radiometric dating useful in terms of understanding evolution?

By allowing the establishment of geological timescales, it provides a significant source of information about the ages of fossils and the deduced rates of evolutionary change. Radiometric dating is also used to date archaeological materials, including ancient artifacts.

How do we know earth is 4.6 billion years old?

The process of figuring out a rocks age often falls to the scientific techniques of radiometric dating, the most famous of which is radiocarbon dating. Based on the very old zircon rock from Australia we know that the Earth is at least 4.374 billion years old.