Radioactive dating is a really interesting way to learn about our history. It helps us figure out how old things are from the past. Here’s a simple breakdown of how it works:
Carbon-14 Dating: This is one of the main methods used. It looks at a special type of carbon called carbon-14.
Living things take in carbon-14 while they are alive.
But once they die, the carbon-14 starts to break down slowly. This happens at a steady rate, called a half-life, which is about 5,730 years.
By checking how much carbon-14 is left in something, like a piece of old wood, archaeologists can figure out how long ago the creature or plant was alive. This method can date things that are up to about 50,000 years old!
Example: Let’s say we find an old wooden tool that people used a long time ago. By testing its carbon content, we can tell when it was last used. This helps us learn more about how humans lived back in those days.
In short, radioactive dating helps us connect with our ancestors. It reveals stories behind old objects and helps us understand more about our history and timeline.
Radioactive dating is a really interesting way to learn about our history. It helps us figure out how old things are from the past. Here’s a simple breakdown of how it works:
Carbon-14 Dating: This is one of the main methods used. It looks at a special type of carbon called carbon-14.
Living things take in carbon-14 while they are alive.
But once they die, the carbon-14 starts to break down slowly. This happens at a steady rate, called a half-life, which is about 5,730 years.
By checking how much carbon-14 is left in something, like a piece of old wood, archaeologists can figure out how long ago the creature or plant was alive. This method can date things that are up to about 50,000 years old!
Example: Let’s say we find an old wooden tool that people used a long time ago. By testing its carbon content, we can tell when it was last used. This helps us learn more about how humans lived back in those days.
In short, radioactive dating helps us connect with our ancestors. It reveals stories behind old objects and helps us understand more about our history and timeline.