Question

question 9
what can radiometric dating help scientists determine about rocks and the fossils they contain?
it can determine the absolute age of the rocks and the fossils they contain by using the half - life of known radioactive isotopes.
it can determine which rocks and fossils are radioactive.
it can determine the relative age of the rocks and the fossils they contain.
it can determine the age of the rocks but indicates nothing about the fossils.

Explanation:

Radiometric dating is a method that uses the decay of radioactive isotopes (with known half - lives) to calculate the age of rocks and fossils. It gives an absolute age (a specific time in the past) rather than just a relative age (older or younger than something else). It is not about determining which rocks/fossils are radioactive (most have some trace radioactivity), and it does give information about fossils within the rocks as well.

Answer:

It can determine the absolute age of the rocks and the fossils they contain by using the half - life of known radioactive isotopes.