EARTH SCIENCE

Name of Learner: Grade Level:

Section: Date:

Module 18
RELATIVE AND ABSOLUTE DATING

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR LEARNERS

Earth has changed over time. These were all determined from fossils of extinct creatures
now used as clues to understand the conditions of life from the past.

Concepts in a Box (Olivar, Rodolfo, & Cabria, 2016)

History of Earth

determined through

relative dating absolut dating fossils geologic time

scale
based on done through
subdivided
into

law of stratigraphy unconformity potassium argon

eon
such as
such as
uranium-lead divided into

superposition angular
conformity
era
rubidium-strontium
original
horizontality nonconformity divided into

rubidium-strontium
period
disconformity
cross-cutting
relationships
divided into

epoch
All of the processes mentioned require long periods of time to create noticeable change
on Earth’s surface. You can just imagine how long it would take to create an ocean as vast as
the Pacific Ocean if the ocean floor moves only at about 10cm/year. It is then important to
know the history of earth to learn the complexities of its past and be able to use it to understand
the present.
One of the most important contributions of geologists to mankind is the geologic time scale,
which holds a history that is exceedingly long. The geologic time scale divides the history of
earth into different blocks of time by using relative dating. Since geologists use rocks to
understand earth’s history, relative dating places these rocks in their proper sequence of
formation. Relative dating does not give accurate numerical dates, it only tells that an event
preceded the other. This method is still widely used today alongside a more accurate method
called absolute dating, which uses radioactive elements. With relative and absolute dating,
geologists are able to trace the history of earth. (Olivar et al., 2016)

Relative Dating
Relative dating requires one to know the basic concepts such as the law of
superposition, and the principles of original horizontally, principle of cross-cutting
relationships, and unconformities.

Law of Superposition
The law of superposition is the most
basic principle in relative dating. It states
that in an undeformed sequence of
sedimentary rock, the layers found on the
top are the youngest rocks and the layers at
the bottom are the oldest. It may seem too
obvious, but this principle has only been
clearly stated in 1669 by the Danish
anatomist, geologist, and priest, Nicolaus
Steno.
Fig. 1. The youngest layer of rocks in a mountain is always situated
at the top with the oldest at the bottom. Retrieved from
https://images.app.goo.gl/Q69j648RvJK54WQH9

Principle of Original Horizontality

Along with the law of
superposition, Steno stated that an
undeformed sequence is the one where the
layers are still in a horizontal position. This
follows the principle of original
horizontality, which states that sediments
are deposited in a horizontal position.

Fig. 2. The rock layers of Grand Canyon are in the horizontal position and have
not been deformed. Retrieved from
https://images.app.goo.gl/VEPoytkmvCauMQ7E9
Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships
The principle of cross-cutting relationships determines which events happened first
depending on which rocks are affected. The geologic layer that cuts another is younger than
the layer it cuts through.

Fig. 3. Fault A is older than the unaffected conglomerate, but younger than the sandstone which it has cuts across the
sandstone. Retrieved from https://images.app.goo.gl/S2Vwg6qjcNm1XqKJ6

Unconformities
Rock layers that have not been interrupted are
considered conformable. These sites represent spans
of geologic time. But there is no such place on Earth
that has a complete conformable strata since external
and internal processes have always interrupted the
deposition of the sediments. These breaks in the
record of the rock strata are called unconformities and
with this, long periods of missing geologic recordare
determined.
There are three basic types of unconformities:
angular unconformity, disconformity, and
nonconformity. Angular unconformity is
characterized by having tilted or folded sedimentary
rocks below younger, horizontal layers of rocks.
Disconformity is determined where there are missing
parallel rocks layers. Erosion takes place and removes
the younger top layers and the top layers would
deposit sediments and then deposition would once
again happen. Nonconformity is characterized by an
igneous or metamorphic rock found below a
sedimentary rock.
Using all these principles for relative dating,
one can determine the order of events but remember
that it does not give a time element as to when they Fig. 4. Three basic types of unconformities. Retrieved from
https://images.app.goo.gl/Txq9GVNHGSbAaSbA6
happened.
Absolute Dating
Absolute dating is a method of measuring the age of an event or object in years. To
determine the absolute ages of fossils and rocks, scientists analyze isotopes of radioactive
elements. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but
different number of neutrons. Most isotopes are stable and will stay in their original form.
However, there are unstable isotopes that decay into other forms in order to achieve stability.
Scientists call them radioactive isotopes. These isotopes tend to break down into stable isotopes
of the same or other elements at a steady rate as seen in the following figure:

Fig. 5. When radioactive isotopes break down into stable ones, thermal energy is released. Retrieved from
https://images.app.goo.gl/F5P94xWL3B1uGmGe6

In radioactive decay, an unstable radioactive isotope of one element breaks down into
a stable isotope. The unstable radioactive isotope is called parent isotope while the stable
isotope produced by the radioactive decay of the parent isotope is called daughter isotope. The
time it takes for one-half of the nuclei in the radioactive sample to decay is called half-life. This
amount of time is fixed for each kind of radioactive isotope no matter what physical conditions
it is subjected to. The ratio of parent-daughter isotope determines how many half-lives have
passed. If it is 1:1, then one half-life has passed; if it is 1:3, then two half-lives have passed;
and if 1:7, then three half-lives have passed and so on. For example, the half-life of iodine-131
is 8.021 days. If today you have 1.000 g of 131 I, then 8.021 days from now you will have only
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50% of that amount (0.500 g) because one half of the sample will have decayed into 131 Xe
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daughter isotope. After 8.021 more days (16.063 days total), you will have only 25% (0.250 g)
of your original 131 I sample; after another 8.021 days (24.084 days total), you will have only
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12.5% (0.125 g); and so on. Each passage of a half-life causes the decay of one-half of whatever
daughter isotope remains. Because the radioactive decay or half-life occurs at a steady rate,
scientists use and compare the relative amount of parent isotope with the amount of daughter
material to date an object. Hence, the more daughter material there is, the older the rock is.
 Fig. 5. Graphs of radioactive decay showing the decay of parent atoms and the growth of daughter atoms. The number
of parent atoms decreases by half at a specific amount of time which are converted into daughter atoms. Retrieved from
https://images.app.goo.gl/hjPitEjUh2mPgUcj6

1. Potassium-argon method uses Potassium-40, which has a half-life of 1.3 billion years and
as it decays, it leaves a daughter material, argon. This method is used mainly to ate rocks
older than 100 000 years.
2. Uranium-lead methods uses Uranium-238, which has a half-life of 4.5 billion years.
Uranium-238 decays in a series of steps, and ultimately becomes lead-206. The uranium-
lead method can be used to date rocks more than 10 million years old.
3. Rubidium-strontium method uses Rubidium-87, which forms a stable daughter isotope,
Strontium-87. The half-life of Rubidium-87 is 49 billion years. This method is used for
rocks older than 10 million years.
4. Carbon-14 method uses in three forms of carbon: Carbon-12 and Carbon-13, and the
radioactive isotope Carbon-14. Living plants and animals contain a constant ratio of
Carbon-14 to Carbon-12. Once a plant or animal dies, no new carbon is taken in. The
amount of Carbon-14 begins to decrease as the plant or animal decays. The half-life of
Carbon-14 is 5,730 years. The Carbon-14 method of radiometric dating is used mainly for
dating things that lived within the last 50 000 years.

This technique is called radiometric dating. There are four radiometric-dating methods
based on the estimated age of an object. For dating events that are more recent, radiocarbon
dating is used. This method uses Carbon-14. This Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years and
can be used to date back events up to 75,000 years. All organisms contain a small amount of
Carbon-14, which is proportional with the Carbon-12. When an organism dies, the Carbon-14
decays and is no longer replaced. The amount of carbon-14 left in the sample is then compared
to the amounts of Cabon-12 present and radiocarbon dates can now be determined. This method
has been particularly useful for anthropologists, archeologists, historians, and geologists
dealing with much more recent events.
 Fig. 6. Radiocarbon dating is a method used to count the number of carbon-14 left from a small piece of a fossil.
Retrieved from https://images.app.goo.gl/yXQLSUsXC1Rpb7XFA

LEARNING COMPETENCY WITH CODE

Describe the different methods (relative and absolute dating) to determine the age of
stratified rocks. S11/12ES-Ie-26

ACTIVITY 1:
CRITICAL THINKING: GETTING CHARGED!

Directions:

Answer the following questions concisely.

1. Define relative dating and absolute dating in your own words.

2. Using a Venn diagram, enumerate the similarities and differences between relative dating
and absolute dating.

Relative dating Absolute dating

3. Which form of dating is more accurate? Why?

ACTIVITY 2:
IT’S DATING TIME!

Directions:

A. Relative Dating Activity. Study the diagram below and answer the following
questions on item 1 & 2.

Hypothetical cross-section of sedimentary strata.

 1. Following the principles in stratigraphy, arrange the series of events from the
oldest to the most recent. Write 1 for the oldest to 9 for the most recent event.
a. Formation of limestone
b. Deposition of volcanic ash
c. Intrusion of the pegmatite dike
d. Formation of Slate
e. Erosion (unconformity)
f. Intrusion of basaltic dike
g. Formation of sandstone
h. Intrusion of granite
i. Deposition of shale and siltstone

2. How accurate is relative dating?

Directions:

B. Absolute Dating Activity.

A rock or fossil may be dated by measuring the relative amount of a stable element with
its radioactive parent element. As the rock ages, the amount of radioactive element
becomes less and the amount of stable element increases.
Procedures:
1. For this activity, you need 50 pieces of 25-centavo coins (you may also use a bottle
cap or any other small and flat material with two distinct sides), cardboard box with
lid (you may also use small container). Each 25-centavo coin represents an atom in
the radioactive element Carbon-14.
2. Place all the 25-centavo coins face up in the cardboard box and replace the lid. The
25-centavo coins facing up represent the atoms that are still radioactive. (Carbon-
14)
3. Shake the coins in the box for 10 seconds. (Note: Each trial/shake represents 5,730
years that have passed.)
4. Take off the lid and take out all coins that are facing down. Count these and record
the number in the data table.
5. Subtract the number of 25-centavo coins removed from the total number of 25-
centavo coins to find the number of coins remaining. Record that number in the data
table. The 25-centavo coins removed represents atoms that have “decayed” and are
no longer radioactive. (Nitrogen-14)
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 until all coins have been removed.
Data Table:

Total 25-centavo coins: 50

Shake # of 25-centavo # of 25-centavo Shake # of 25-centavo # of 25-
number coins removed coins remaining number coins removed centavo coins
remaining
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9
5 10

Analysis:
Graph the number of 25-centavo coins remaining (vertical axis) vs. the number of
shakes (horizontal axis). Give the graph a title and label both axes. Draw a smooth line that
best fits the points.
Title: Graph it on!

Questions:

1. What is the half-life of the 50 atoms (represented by the 25-centavo coins) of Carbon-
14 in this activity? (How many number of shakes did it take for half of your Carbon-14
to decay?)

2. If each trial represents 5730 years, how many years would it have taken for all of your
Carbon-14 25-centavo coins to become Nitrogen-14 25-centavo coins?
 3. Keeping in mind that scientists continue to gather information about rocks using
radiometric dating, why do you think scientists are interested in studying rocks from
asteroids, the moon, and the other planets?

ACTIVITY 3:
TICKET OUT THE DOOR!

PROCEDURE

Relative and absolute dating clearly give us a picture about the events that have happened on
earth. Come up with a presentation that shows how humans are directly or indirectly benefited
from the knowledge provided by these methods. You may create a song, poem, brochure,
Criteria Excellent Good Fair Needs to improve
4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Information included The information The information The information The information
about the topic included about the included about the included about the included about the
topic is relevant topic is, generally topic is not always topic is not relevant
and clear. speaking, relevant relevant and and confusing.
and clear. sometimes not clear.
Comprehension The learner shows Generally speaking, There are some The comprehension
a good the learner shows a sections that the of the final topic is
comprehension of good comprehension learner has not had a not very good.
the topic they have of the topic they good comprehension
worked on. have worked on. of the topic they have
worked on.
Creativity The learner has The learner has The learner has The learner has not
introduced his/her introduced some introduced his/her introduced any
own relevant and relevant and original own elements but relevant and original
original elements. elements. he/she has not always element.
been relevant.
collage or etc. (Note: If your presentation includes a video, send it to your subject teacher.)

RUBRIC FOR SCORING

Rubric for Differentiated Learning Activity

2
5 4 3 1
Needs
Excellent Very Good Average Unacceptable
Improvement
The idea is The idea
The idea is The idea has
clear and has some The idea is
Ideas basic or no sense at
focused to good not clear.
general. all.
the topic. details.
Simple Essay

Graphing Activity

Criteria 4 3 2 1
Graph Graph includes all 7 required Graph is Graph is Graph is
elements (title, axes labeled, units on
missing one or missing 3 or missing or has
axes, numbers spaced at equal
intervals along axes, data points two elements. 4 elements. incorrect 5 or
plotted correctly, line starts with first more elements.
point and ends with last point, graph
fills the space available and extends
more than half-way along each axis).
Activity Number given in the answer Number given Number given Number given
Questions matches the data collected in the answer in the answer in the answer
(# 1-2) and answered questions matches the data matches some did not match on
completely. collected but of the data the data
collected and
only one part of collected and
some parts of
the question is the question is
the question
answered are answered answered
completely and correctly. incompletely.
correctly.
Activity Answer connects back to Answer Answer is well- Answer is
Question radiometric dating and gives at least explained, but feasible.
connects back to
one clear reason why information does not
(# 3)
from a non-Earth source would help radiometric connect to
describe Earth events. dating and is radiometric
well-explained. dating.

REFLECTION

1. I learned that …

2. I enjoyed most on …

3. I want to learn more on …

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