In the 1800s,Lord Kelvin estimated the age of the Earth,utilizing a number of assumptions.Which wrong assumption was the primary reason why his estimate (approximately 20 million years)was so wildly inaccurate?
A) that the Earth was once hotter than it presently is today
B) that the Earth may have been molten when first formed
C) that no new heat has been added to the Earth since its initial formation
D) that the Earth would lose heat over time through radiation into outer space

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kelvin's primary mistake was not accounting for the heat produced by radioactive decay, which was unknown at the time. This process adds new heat to the Earth, contradicting his assumption that no new heat had been added since Earth's formation.

In the 1800s,Lord Kelvin Estimated the Age of the Earth,utilizing