How can radiometric dating yield reliable values for the ages of minerals, rocks and some fossils?
A)The decay constants are fixed and well measured for isotopic decay.
B)One only needs to analyse for the parent isotope.
C)The physical conditions that control decay, like temperature and pressure, are always well known.
D)There are absolute fossil ages to compare to and test the radiometric clocks.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Radiometric dating is reliable because the decay constants, which are a measure of the rate at which parent isotopes decay into daughter isotopes, are fixed and well-known. This allows for accurate age determinations of minerals, rocks, and some fossils based on the proportions of parent to daughter isotopes present.

How Can Radiometric Dating Yield Reliable Values for the Ages