2007-07-09 18:47:04 · 7 answers · asked by Neophyte 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
About 4.56 billion years
2007-07-09 18:56:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer to this question depends on whether or not you subscribe to the 'Big Bang' theory or the 'Steady State' theory.
Most scientists these days have agreed that the 'Big Bang' is the most likely, but others still maintain that the system of stars, planets, etc. developed relatively slowly and did not 'start' all at once.
Because there is little evidence for the 'steady state' theory, there is no agreed concensus among its supporters, but they DO agree that if this theory is correct the universe (and the earth) is much older than if you subscibe to the 'Big Bang' theory.
The estimated age under 'BB' is 4.6 billion years, and is the only agreed (proven?) estimate of the age of the earth.
Until evidence can be demonstrated to the contrary I reckon that is the age we have to accept.
Not even I can remember it, so it is a little academic, but its a good 'general' age to accept.
Hope that answers your question,
Cheers,
BobSpain.
p.s. The actual age should be 4,600,000.028 years, as I was told in 1979 it was 4.6 billion and 28 years have passed since then! Hmmmm.
2007-07-10 02:12:14 · answer #2 · answered by BobSpain 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The age of the solar system is about 4.5 billion years.
The earth is considerably younger.
When the solar system began 4.5 billion years ago the sun was starting to form and all the other rocky debris was in the process of separating into the planets and the rest of the solar system.
When the earth coalesced into a planet would have been something less than 4.5 billion years. 3.5? 4 billion?
2007-07-10 08:03:10 · answer #3 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4.4-4.6 billion years. the uncertainty is mainly because various materials such as asteroids and very old terrestrial and lunar rocks can be dated, and are thought to have formed around the time as the earth did. but it's hard to say exactly when during that period the earth formed.
BobSpain: big bang or steady state doesn't affect the methods used to estimate the age of the earth. has it been 30 years since you read about this? steady state is a non-starter these days, i think mainly because no one figured out how to account for the cosmic background in the steady-state theory.
2007-07-10 02:08:10 · answer #4 · answered by vorenhutz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4.56 Billion years.
2007-07-10 03:09:21 · answer #5 · answered by DeepNight 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
over 4.5 billion years old
2007-07-10 13:06:17 · answer #6 · answered by The Tourist 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4.6 billion years
2007-07-10 01:49:14 · answer #7 · answered by queenofthepenguinz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋