How do we know how old Earth is? by Avery Smith https://padlet.com/averyburnermail/u0r5a3b45axg Module Seven Assignment Four Honors en-us 2018-10-07 14:02:50 UTC 2025-06-19 15:57:53 UTC hello@padlet.com How Old is the Earth? averyburnermail https://padlet.com/averyburnermail/u0r5a3b45axg/wish/290028579 Currently, we believe the Earth to be approximately 4.543 billion years ago. This estimate was first hypothesized by Arthur Holmes in 1913, stated as an attempt to correct the previously estimated 1.6 billion year old model. Despite being met with heavy criticism and backlash, modern geologic scientists would prove Holmes right, made possible through consistent advancements in the fields of science and technology.

But how did they figure this out?

]]> 2018-10-07 14:04:41 UTC https://padlet.com/averyburnermail/u0r5a3b45axg/wish/290028579 How do we know the age of the Earth? averyburnermail https://padlet.com/averyburnermail/u0r5a3b45axg/wish/290028855 To calculate the age of the Earth, scientists rely on radiometric dating. This technique measures the prevalence of varying amounts of remaining isotopes in a rock, like that of uranium, and compares its decay to its half-life. By doing this, scientists have gathered a relative age of the Earth, but are now searching for an even more precise age and method of determining such. Our current methodology relies on finding the oldest rocks we can, hopefully before it reaches the mantle and melts, and then observing it. Historically, the oldest rock we’ve found and measured was that of a tiny Zircon rock in western Australia, one clarifying our 4.5 billion year measurement. Hopefully, with time and dedication in the field of geology, we may one day be able to celebrate our own planet's birthday!]]> 2018-10-07 14:06:52 UTC https://padlet.com/averyburnermail/u0r5a3b45axg/wish/290028855 Sources: averyburnermail https://padlet.com/averyburnermail/u0r5a3b45axg/wish/290029106 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-do-we-know-earth-46-billion-years-old-180951483/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/03/06/dear-science-how-do-we-know-how-old-the-earth-is/

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-reJXNCoI10s/TqF9Q2DYpQI/AAAAAAAABhI/6u3PH6FXC10/s1600/BirthdayEarth.gif

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Earth_Eastern_Hemisphere.jpg]]> 2018-10-07 14:08:32 UTC https://padlet.com/averyburnermail/u0r5a3b45axg/wish/290029106