The key idea
Different isotope systems suit different materials and timescales; dating is therefore a measurement model, not simply reading an age directly from a sample.
Why it matters
Start with the central idea, then test it against a concrete element or example. A scientific model is useful when we know what it explains — and where its limits are.
A picture to remember
Radiometric dating uses known radioactive decay laws and isotope ratios to infer elapsed time, provided the relevant system history and initial conditions are adequately constrained.
The key idea
Different isotope systems suit different materials and timescales; dating is therefore a measurement model, not simply reading an age directly from a sample.
The key idea
Start with the central idea, then test it against a concrete element or example. A scientific model is useful when we know what it explains — and where its limits are.
Start with the central idea, then test it against a concrete element or example. A scientific model is useful when we know what it explains — and where its limits are.