Question

question: which of the following was used to provide the oldest measurement of earths age? answer options: select one of four carbon dating of fossils from the cambrian period isotopic dating of meteor fragments absolute dating of fossils from the devonian period isotopic dating of fossils from the cambrian period

Explanation:

To determine the oldest measurement of Earth’s age, we analyze each option:

• Carbon dating (for fossils) has limitations in age range (not suitable for very old samples).
• Isotopic dating of meteor fragments: Meteorites are remnants from the early solar system, and their isotopic dating (e.g., using uranium - lead or rubidium - strontium methods) provides a reliable estimate of the solar system’s (and thus Earth’s, as Earth formed with the solar system) age.
• Absolute dating of Devonian or isotopic dating of Cambrian fossils: Fossils are from Earth’s geological periods, but Earth is older than the Cambrian (541 million years ago) or Devonian (419.2 - 358.9 million years ago) periods, so dating fossils can’t give the oldest Earth - age estimate.

Answer:

B. Isotopic dating of meteor fragments