Radiometric Dating Phet Lab

RADIOmetric DATING

Start Virtual Lab

Carbon-14

Step A

1. Click the 'Decay Rates' tab
2. Look at the half-life graph.

Question 1

Step B

1. Adjust the slider on the bucket to increase the nuclei.
2. Press play and watch the half-life graph.

Question 2

Introduction

Objectives

• Explain the concept of half-life.

• Describe the process of decay, including how elements change and emit energy.

• Explain how radiometric dating works.

Directions

1. Open the Virtual Lab by clicking the link on the homepage.
2. Click each footprint fossil to complete each section of the lab.
3. Answer all the questions for each section.

Vocabulary

Half-Life

Radiometric Dating

Radioactive Decay

Measurement

Step A

1. Click the 'measurement' tab.
2. Select a probe type to use on the tree.
3. Find the one that measures the decay.

Question 1

Step B

1. Click the rock and select a probe to use on it.
2. Find the one that measures the decay.

Question 2

Dating Game

Step A

1. Click the 'Dating Game' tab.
2. Click and drag the probe to the object you want to find the age of.
3. Select a probe type. (Carbon for living things, Uranium for rocks)
4. Drag the green arrows in the graph until you match the percentage in the probe box.
5. Input the age of each object and check your estimate to see if it is correct.

Question 1

Hint: If both Carbon and Uranium do not work, click custom and try the other scales.

Uranium-238

Step A

1. Click the 'Reset All' under the isotopes.
2. Select 'Uranium-238'

Question 1

Step B

1. Adjust the slider on the bucket to increase the nuclei.
2. Press play and watch the half-life graph.

Question 2

All Done!

You are ready to be a paleontologist!

P.S. Don't forget to turn in today's lesson in Edio.