2006-12-23 06:54:55 · 8 answers · asked by STORMY K 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Carbon dating. You check how much C-14 has decayed, and because we know the half-life of C-14 (Approx. 5730 yrs.) we can tell how old the fossil is.
2006-12-23 06:56:08 · answer #1 · answered by n8.nate 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Radioactive isotope dating is one method. Although Carbon-14 is a bad choice for most fossils because it has a relatively short half life. Also, you can look at the layers that the fossil was found in to get an idea of how old it is. The older fossils are deeper in the ground. This method doesn't let you date the fossil to a specific time period, but it lets you figure out how old the fossil is relative to other fossils in different dirt layers. If you have specifically dated one of the layers, then you know that the fossils in that layer are also that old.
2006-12-23 07:07:10 · answer #2 · answered by Link 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if fossil is plant then age can be taken by studying rings in stem.if fossil is animal there bone can be studied for age but over all the area or rock where from fossils are found help to determine the age of fossil radioactivity is also an other process through which age of fossil can be determined.
2006-12-23 07:41:37 · answer #3 · answered by jawed 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can tell the age of a fossil by studying it and dipping it in acid
2006-12-23 06:59:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
carbon dating
2006-12-24 10:24:02 · answer #5 · answered by Bonnie K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
carbon dating or radioactive dating
2006-12-23 07:03:53 · answer #6 · answered by Jon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cut it in half and count the rings or you can carbon date it
2006-12-23 06:56:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you feel it and if its hard then its old
2006-12-23 06:56:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋