Question

Radio carbon dating is used to estimate the age of _______.

• A. rocks
• B. old monuments
• C. fossils
• D. living trees

Answer 1

The correct option is C fossils

Radio carbon dating is used to estimate the age of fossils.

Scientists combine several well-tested techniques to find out the ages of fossils. The most important are Relative Dating, in which fossils and layers of rock are placed in order from older to younger, and Radiometric Dating, which allows the actual ages of certain types of rock to be calculated.

Radiocarbon dating involves determining the age of an ancient fossil or specimen by measuring its carbon-14 content. Carbon-14, or radiocarbon, is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope that forms when cosmic rays in the upper atmosphere strike nitrogen molecules, which then oxidize to become carbon dioxide.