Or for radiocarbon dating, the carbon 14 isotope will decay to regular carbon in carbon dioxide.By measuring the quantities of the radioactive elements in the object and knowing the rate (speed) by which the decay occurs, one can estimate the age of the object.
However, knowing its limitations can be a valid basis to question its application and it should not be assumed to be more accurate and absolute than it is often made to be.Another significant limitation of radiometric dating, is that only rocks can be dated that are igneous, rocks which were formed on the site.This includes rocks like basalt, which is a type of solidified lava. How can scientists claim rocks, fossils or a bone or tooth to be of a certain age?What methods are used for this dating and are they reliable?
In this appendix a brief overview of the most common dating techniques will be discussed.
It will show that under certain conditions scientifically reliable dating is possible, however the vast majority of rocks and fossils cannot be accurately dated.
And accurate dating of organic material is only possible if these remains are relatively young.
The best-known ways to assign age to an object is through several techniques jointly known as radiometric dating, also called radioisotope dating.
Radiometric dating is based on the fact that some radioactive elements undergo decay to produce new elements.
For instance, in the case of uranium-lead dating, uranium 238 (the parent element) will eventually decompose to lead 206 (the daughter).