Comparing Relative And Radiometric Dating

When most people hear the term fossil dating, two things come to mind, one being, “Is that what you’re grandparents do?” (Valls, biology class) and two, “what is that?”. By using either relative or radioactive dating methods, most geologists have the ability to tell how old a single fossil is. As always though, we are left with the question of which is better? Delve deeper to understand the comparisons and contrasts of Relative and Radiometric dating, as well as further information on both topics individually.

Relative Dating

Relative dating is not the term used to describe what rednecks do on the weekend. (Get it Mr. Valls?) Relative dating is the ability to put a series of events or objects, rock layers for example, into chronological
This task would go by a lot quicker if all fossils came with a time stamp. But when it comes down to it, two fossil dating techniques seem to unmask themselves as accurate ways of dating fossil and or other elements. Relative and radiometric dating are both extremely effective, although they vary in techniques.They do have some similarities. A few similarities between the two would include the fact that they are, obviously, both able to approximate an age for organic and non-organic elements. They both have the ability to find the ages on organic and non-organic elements using predetermined knowledge of the world around those elements. Both exercise the brain’s ability to work out difficult scientific and mathematic equations. As far as similarities go, the list has all in all come up short, but the differences are drastic. Some differences between relative and radiometric dating are the fact that while relative dating uses linear sedimentary rocks and stratigraphy to estimate the age of the element, radiometric dating uses the decaying of isotopes in organic and non-organic elements to be able to calculate an almost exact ago on the fossil or artifact. Personally I think that’s totally rad. They also vary in dependability. Relative dating has multiple outlying, constantly changing variables, as well as not very liable information. It is subsequently just a somewhat accurate observation/guessing game. While radiometric dating derives from basic elemental make up itself. Radiometric dating is said to