Radiometric dating can be problematic when applied to recent samples because
A) it cannot be used in conjunction with other dating techniques.
B) the earth's magnetic field changes periodically.
C) these methods have relatively large margins for error.
D) many fossils of interest were present only during a limited period of time.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Radiometric dating methods are based on the decay of radioactive isotopes, and the amount of decay can be used to determine the age of a sample. However, there are certain assumptions that need to be made in order to calculate the age accurately, such as knowing the initial amount of the radioactive isotope in the sample and the rate at which it decayed. These assumptions can introduce errors into the calculation, particularly when dealing with recent samples where the decay rates are faster and the initial amounts are smaller. Additionally, other factors such as contamination and the presence of multiple isotopes can also affect the accuracy of radiometric dating. Therefore, these methods have relatively large margins for error when applied to recent samples.

Radiometric Dating Can Be Problematic When Applied to Recent Samples