Bot which quantity helps determine the absolute age of rocks and fossils? pick one of these answers. the difference between the amounts of carbon-12 and carbon-14. the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14. the difference between the number of protons and neutrons in carbon-14. the ratio of protons to neutrons in carbon-14.
The correct answer is: the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14.
Bot which statement best describes why most individual organisms never fossilized? pick one of these answers. only organisms that lived in the ocean fossilize. only organisms with hard parts fossilize. chemicals that fossilize organisms are rare. conditions for fossilization are rare.
The correct answer is: conditions for fossilization are rare.
Bot use this paragraph: the half-life of carbon-14 is 5,700 years. a certain sample of wood has 20 grams of carbon-14 when it is alive. How many grams of carbon will it have after 5,700 years? pick one of these answers. 5 grams. 10 grams. 2 grams. 40 grams.
Since the half-life of carbon-14 is 5,700 years, after this time period, half of the original amount will have decayed. Therefore, the sample of wood would have 10 grams of carbon-14 after 5,700 years.
The correct answer is: the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14.
The quantity that helps determine the absolute age of rocks and fossils is **the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14**.
Here's an explanation:
Carbon-14 is an isotope of carbon that undergoes radioactive decay over time. It is formed in the Earth's upper atmosphere by cosmic rays, and it is then absorbed by plants during photosynthesis. Animals and organisms that consume plants will also have carbon-14 in their bodies.
The ratio of carbon-12 (a stable isotope) to carbon-14 in a living organism is relatively consistent, as there is a constant intake and decay of carbon-14. However, once an organism dies, it no longer takes in carbon-14, and the existing carbon-14 in its body undergoes radioactive decay at a known rate.
By measuring the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14 in a sample of a fossil or rock, scientists can estimate how long it has been since the organism died. This is because the rate of decay of carbon-14 is well-understood, so by comparing the current carbon-14 ratio to the expected ratio when the organism was alive, scientists can calculate the absolute age of the sample.
Therefore, out of the given options, the most relevant quantity for determining the absolute age of rocks and fossils is **the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14**.