Teaching Radioisotope Dating Using the Geology of the Hawaiian Islands

Students and the general public are often told that the chronology of ancient events is known with high confidence, but the methods used to determine how long ago an event occurred are usually not described or even mentioned. This gives the impression that the methods are either not important or tha...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of geoscience education Vol. 57; no. 2; pp. 101 - 105
Main Author Moran, Timothy J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bellingham Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.03.2009
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Subjects
Carbon dating
Chemical bonds
Elementary Secondary Education
Evolution
Geology
High School Students
Methods
Organic Chemistry
Paleontology
Physics
Plate tectonics
Radioisotopes
Radiology
Research Methodology
Science Instruction
Scientific Research
Scientists
Secondary School Science
Students
Studies
Teaching Methods
Hawaii
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Summary:Students and the general public are often told that the chronology of ancient events is known with high confidence, but the methods used to determine how long ago an event occurred are usually not described or even mentioned. This gives the impression that the methods are either not important or that only scientists can understand them. Fortunately, many of the techniques are understandable if properly presented. Here one key method of dating ancient materials, argon/potassium radioisotope dating, is described in detail. In addition, a dramatic example of its calibration is described using the geology of the Hawaiian Islands. Sample lessons used in a high school physics class are described and discussed.
ISSN:1089-9995
2158-1428
DOI:10.5408/1.3544237