How can astronomers measure the age of a meteorite that fell from the skies?
A) Just like for planets, we measure the age by counting the number of craters on the meteorite
B) Meteorites all contain metals and the metal conducts electricity better and better as it ages
C) They measure the amount still left of radioactive materials in the meteorite, and how much has turned into decay products
D) The age of a meteorite can be found from the angle at which it enters the Earth's atmosphere; so scientists can only get the ages of meteorites they observe falling
E) There is no way to measure the age of any meteorites

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Astronomers measure the age of a meteorite by measuring the amount of radioactive material still present in the meteorite and how much has turned into decay products. This process is called radiometric dating. By comparing the ratio of radioactive isotopes to their decay products, scientists can calculate the age of the meteorite.

How Can Astronomers Measure the Age of a Meteorite That