Understanding isotopes is important for figuring out how old ancient objects are. Scientists use special methods called radiometric dating to do this.

1. Carbon-14 Dating:

   • Carbon-14, also known as $^{14}C$, can help us determine ages for things that are about 5,730 years old.
   • This method works well for dating organic materials, like wood or bones, that are up to about 50,000 years old.

2. Other Isotope Methods:

   • Potassium-Argon dating ($^{40}K \rightarrow ^{40}Ar$) is used for dating rocks that are more than 100,000 years old.
   • Uranium-Lead dating ($^{238}U \rightarrow ^{206}Pb$) helps scientists date rocks that are millions of years old.

These methods give us clues about how old artifacts and rocks are. They help us learn more about our history and the Earth.