Campbell Essential Biology (7th Edition)
7th Edition
ISBN: 9780134765037
Author: Eric J. Simon, Jean L. Dickey, Jane B. Reece
Publisher: PEARSON
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Textbook Question
Chapter 14, Problem 7SQ
A paleontologist estimates that when a particular rock formed, it contained 12 mg of the radioactive isotope potassium-40. The rock now contains 3 mg of potassium-40. The half-life of potassium-40 is 1.3 billion years. From this information, you can conclude that the rock is approximately _____ billion years old.
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionStudents have asked these similar questions
A paleontologist estimates that when a particular rock formed, it contained 12 mg of the radioactive isotope potassium-40. The rock now contains 3 mg of potassium-40. The half-life of potassium-40 is 1.3 billion years. From this information, you can conclude that the rock is approximately ______________ billion years old.
A fossil is found to contain the radioactive parent and daughter isotopes uranium 235U, and lead 207Pb, in the ratio 12.5% to 87.5%. Assuming that no 207Pb was present when the fossil first formed, estimate the age of this sample.Please show some thought process and a therefore statement. Thank you very much, have a great day!
A scientist has a fossil that was found in a layer of rock close to Earth’s surface. He believes that the fossil is around 12,000 years old.
Which method would best allow the scientist to confirm the actual age of the fossil?
finding another fossil in a deeper layer of rock
finding another fossil in the same layer of rock
using carbon/nitrogen absolute dating
using potassium/argon absolute dating
Chapter 14 Solutions
Campbell Essential Biology (7th Edition)
Ch. 14 - Distinguish between microevolution, speciation,...Ch. 14 - Identify each of the following reproductive...Ch. 14 - Why is a small, isolated population more likely to...Ch. 14 - Many species of plants and animals adapted to...Ch. 14 - Mass extinctions a. cut the number of species to...Ch. 14 - Prob. 6SQCh. 14 - A paleontologist estimates that when a particular...Ch. 14 - Why are biologists careful to distinguish...Ch. 14 - In the three-domain system, which two domains...Ch. 14 - Prob. 10IMT
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- Which item is best dated using the potassium-argon (K-Ar) method? Group of answer choices A: Cave layers in South Africa B: stone tools C: Ancient dinosaur bones D: organic materials E: Lava flows found in the Olduvai Gorgearrow_forwardFact or theory? Organisms that look similar have been observed to have differences when preserved in rocks of different ages.arrow_forwardWhich parent isotope is most useful for dating samples that are greater than 100 million years old? a potassium-40 b lead-206 c argon-40 d uranium-238arrow_forward
- Volcanic ash can be used to date fossil finds because each time it is expelled by an eruption it has the same relative proportions of radioactive isotopes. True or Falsearrow_forwardWhich statement is true? Recent remains of plants or animals on topsoil are fossils. Imprints of leaves or footprints in sedimentary rock are fossils. Insects preserved in hardened tree sap are not fossils. Petrified skeletal bones from an ancient mammal are not fossilsarrow_forwardIn radiometric dating, scientists use the half-life of a radioactive isotope, to determine the approximate age of rocks, and the fossils that are embedded in them. Half-life is the time it takes for half of a radioactive element to become stable.Uranium 238 (238U) is a radioactive element that decays into Lead (206Pb) after 4.5 billion years. 6) Scientists found a fossil in a layer of rock that tested as 1/8th U and 7/8th Pb. What is the approximate age of the fossil? A) 562 million years old B) 4.5 billion years old C) 9 billion years old D) 13.5 billion years old Not Gradedarrow_forward
- True or false. The supercontinent pangaea formed about four billion years ago.arrow_forwardHow do you think researchers and paleontologist determine where fossils of hominins are buried? answer must be at least 300 words in paragraph formatarrow_forwardFill in the blanks. The parentheses after the blank represent the choices for each blank. ___________ (Pangaea, Gondwana) was a supercontinent that existed more than 500 million years ago. ___________ (Pangaea, Gondwana) was a supercontinent that began to form around 300 million years ago and broke up 100 million years later.arrow_forward
- Question 1: Mass extinction ocurred on the following time and era except for: A. Mesozoic B. Precambrian C. Paleozoic D. Cenozoic E. All of the answers are correct Question 2: Why would Precambrian Time did not have a lot of fossils? A. fossils were destroyed by extreme heat and pressure. B. soft bodied animals do not leave a lot of fossils. C. majority of the fossils during Precambrian time underwent chemical transformation D. paleontologists haven’t recovered much of the remains of ancient organisms. Question 3: Transgenic organisms have also been developed for commercial purposes most importantly in the agricultural sector. Perhaps the most famous examples are food crops like soy and corn that are now highly resistant to various types of pests. These transgenic organisms are commonly produced by: A. addition, deletion of modification of genes B. gene sequences and programming C. inducing genetic mutations D. genetic transformation by bacteria E. identifying chromosomal…arrow_forwardResearchers looking for fossils of the earliest life forms face many hurdles. For example, few sedimentary rocks date back more than 3 billion years. Explain why so few remaining samples of these early rocks remain.arrow_forwardWhich of the following geologic periods is not part of the Paleozoic Era? the Carboniferous Period the Cambrian Period the Cretaceous Period the Devonian Period the Ordovician Periodarrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
- Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...BiologyISBN:9781305117396Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage Learning
Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...
Biology
ISBN:9781305117396
Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Fossil: The Language & History of Paleontology; Author: Alliterative;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9yNwRBlKtU;License: Standard youtube license