2007-11-13 19:27:12 · 8 answers · asked by clown 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
a paleontologist would first check to see what strata the fossil comes from (what layer in the rock...layers deeper in the ground are usually older than those above). Then, they would check the age using a radioactive isotope (like carbon, if they don't think the fossil is old.) Radioactive dating works because radioactive materials decay at a constant rate. In that specific time, half of the material converts to a specific, more stable, non-radioactive atom (that's called a half-life). Then, the paleontologist measures how much of the non-radioactive atom and how much of the radioactive atom are present, and can then closely estimate how old the fossil is. Some radioactive isotopes have very short half-lives, whereas some have very long ones.
Hope this helps
2007-11-15 14:20:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it is from an archaeological dig a preliminary test would be the layer of earth, i think they are called stata (could be mistaken...) and as a 'confimatory' test the most common method is carbon dating (ie the dating of the elemental carbon in the fossil)
2007-11-14 06:15:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think scientists figure it out by rock layers and using radioactivity. (Isotopes) I kinda forgot..when people ask questions and Yahoo!Answers..well y can't they just search reasons online???
2007-11-14 03:34:00 · answer #3 · answered by Renda 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
carbon 14 ,dating.
2007-11-14 04:01:48 · answer #4 · answered by Tuncay U 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
carbon dating
2007-11-14 03:42:23 · answer #5 · answered by :-) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by the strata its found in
then carbon dating
2007-11-14 03:32:30 · answer #6 · answered by HaSiCiT Bust A Tie A1 TieBusters 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
carbon dating. tells approx. age
2007-11-14 03:31:36 · answer #7 · answered by RICK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They cut it in half and count the rings.
2007-11-14 03:58:39 · answer #8 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋