wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

How long is an eon in years?

Open in App
Solution

Answer:
Eon has a number of meanings. In Astronomy, an eon refers to 1 billion (109) years. But it also refers to a very long, unspecified period of time, or specific geologic stages of the Earth
Explanation:
Since this question is posted in Astronomy, I will assume that the answer of eon = 109 years is the most appropriate, however it is not the most common.
The term eon (or aeon) is frequently used as a term for a very long but un-specified time period, much the same way "forever" and "ages" are used.

In Earth history, stages of the earth's development are divided into four major eons (Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic and Phanerozoic), which are in turn divided into eras and periods. These geologic eons are distinguished by major stages in Earth's geologic history, rather than fixed periods of time.



flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
0
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Measurement of Significant Figures
CHEMISTRY
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon