A sample of ancient granite crust is dated using potassium-40. Scientists find that 50% of the potassium-40 has decayed to form argon-40. Approximately how old is this rock?

Question

Moshe James

Physics

15 February, 16:23

A sample of ancient granite crust is dated using potassium-40. Scientists find that 50% of the potassium-40 has decayed to form argon-40. Approximately how old is this rock?

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Grant Morrow · Answer 1

The find the approximate age of the granite one must know the half-life of potassium-40. The half-life of an element is the period of time in which half atoms of the same substance changes into the isotope of the element. The isotope of potassium-40 is Argon 40. Potassium-40 has a half-life of approximately 1.3 billion years. The rock is approximately 1.3 billion years old.