This technique solely depends on the traces of radioactive isotopes found in fossils. The rate of decay of these elements helps determine their age, and in turn the age of the rocks.
Relative Vs. Absolute Dating: The Ultimate Face-off
Physical structure of living beings depends on the protein content in their bodies. The changes in this content help determine the relative age of these fossils. Each tree has growth rings in its trunk.
This technique dates the time period during which these rings were formed. It determines the period during which certain object was last subjected to heat.
It is based on the concept that heated objects absorb light, and emit electrons. The emissions are measured to compute the age.
What is Absolute Dating
Differentiation Using a Venn Diagram. A Venn diagram depicts both dating methods as two individual sets. The area of intersection of both sets depicts the functions common to both. Take a look at the diagram to understand their common functions. When we observe the intersection in this diagram depicting these two dating techniques, we can conclude that they both have two things in common: Provide an idea of the sequence in which events have occurred.
Determine the age of fossils, rocks, or ancient monuments. Absolute dating determines the numerical age while relative dating arranges the fossils in an order.
What is Relative Dating
The precision in absolute ageing is high while the precision of the relative ageing is low. Absolute age is a quantitative measurement while relative age is a qualitative measurement. Absolute dating works better for igneous and metamorphic rocks while relative dating works better for sedimentary rocks having layered arrangement of sediments. Absolute dating is expensive and takes time while relative dating is less-expensive and efficient. The main techniques used in absolute dating are carbon dating, annual cycle method, trapped electron method, and the atomic clocks.
These techniques are more complex and advanced regarding technology as compared to the techniques in practice in the relative dating.
Pre/Post-Test Key
The absolute dating is also sometimes referred as the relative numerical dating as it comes with the exact age of the object. The absolute dating is more reliable than the relative dating, which merely puts the different events in the time order and explains one using the other. The radiometric dating is another crucial technique through which the exact age can be obtained.
In radiometric dating, the radioactive minerals within the rocks are used to know about the age of the object or the sites.
Absolute Dating 6 Explanatory Video. No comments yet Add Your Comment Cancel reply. The relative dating is the technique used to know that which object or item is older in comparison to the other one.