Question

1. which of the following is true of the difference between relative dating and absolute dating? a) relative dating provides a more precise age of fossil remains b) relative dating relies upon radioactive decay to produce an age of fossil remains c) absolute dating relies primarily upon nitrogen decay to produce an age of fossil remains d) absolute dating relies upon radioactive decay to produce an age of fossil remains

Explanation:

• Option A: Relative dating gives a relative order of fossils (e.g., which is older/younger) but not a precise numerical age, so A is false.
• Option B: Relative dating uses principles like superposition, cross - cutting relationships, etc., not radioactive decay. Radioactive decay is used in absolute dating, so B is false.
• Option C: Absolute dating commonly uses radioactive isotopes like carbon - 14, uranium - lead, etc., not nitrogen decay (nitrogen - 14 is stable in most dating contexts), so C is false.
• Option D: Absolute dating methods (e.g., radiocarbon dating, potassium - argon dating) rely on the radioactive decay of isotopes to determine the numerical age of fossil remains, so D is true.

Answer:

D. Absolute Dating relies upon radioactive decay to produce an age of fossil remains