Radiometric dating has been carried out since 1905 when it was invented by Ernest Rutherford as a method by which one might determine the age of the Earth. In the century since then the techniques have been greatly improved and expanded.Radiometric dating has been carried out since 1905 when it was invented by Ernest Rutherford

When was radioactive dating created?

Radiocarbon dating was developed in the 1940s (Libby, 1955, 1961), and transformed our understanding of the timing of events and rates of change as one of the most widely applied techniques for dating Quaternary environments.

What is the theory behind radioactive dating?

Radiometric dating, often called radioactive dating, is a technique used to determine the age of materials such as rocks. It is based on a comparison between the observed abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope and its decay products, using known decay rates.

Why do scientists use radioactive dating?

Geologists use radiometric dating to estimate how long ago rocks formed, and to infer the ages of fossils contained within those rocks. The universe is full of naturally occurring radioactive elements. Radioactive atoms are inherently unstable; over time, radioactive parent atoms decay into stable daughter atoms.