Question

How is radioactive dating important for providing evidence for evolution?

Answer 1

Hint: Fossils from any geological era are remnants of formerly living organisms. The remains are preserved naturally. Generally, fossils are exoskeletons, bones, shells, imprints on stones, etc. It is possible to estimate the age of fossils through radioisotope dating techniques.

Complete answer:
Radioactive dating is the process by which samples are aged based on how much of an element they contain is a radioactive isotope. The rate of decay of the isotopes must be known for radioactive dating to be carried out. How much of the sample was present at the time the sample originated must also be known. This enables scientists to calculate the age of the sample based on the radioactive isotope fraction present when the sample was collected.

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."


Note:
Fossils are animal or plant remains from a previous geologic time scale. For studies of evolution, fossils are important. Radiometric dating procedures can determine the age of fossils. Radiocarbon dating is the most common technique used. A very accurate way to date the Earth is radiometric dating. As radiometric dating is based on the radioactive decay of unstable isotopes, we know it is accurate. When an unstable isotope of Uranium (U) decays, it becomes an isotope of the element Lead (Pb).