Question

relative dating (1/2)
in an excavation project, a set of fossils found at 5 meters down are younger than a second set of fossils found at 17 meters down.
age of a fossil is found to be 61.1 million years old.

absolute dating (2/2)
a fossil analyzed with radiometric dating
a fossil has undergone 2 half-lives of a radioactive isotope.

Explanation:

To solve the problem of classifying the statements under relative dating or absolute dating, we analyze each statement:

Relative Dating (1/2)

Relative dating determines the age of a fossil by comparing its position (or other relationships) to other fossils/rock layers, without giving a numerical age.

• Statement 1: "In an excavation project, a set of fossils found at 5 meters down are younger than a second set of fossils found at 17 meters down."

This compares the age of two fossil sets based on their depth (deeper layers are older), so it is relative dating.

Absolute Dating (2/2)

Absolute dating gives a numerical (or specific) age of a fossil, often using radiometric dating or half - life calculations.

• Statement 2: "A fossil analyzed with radiometric dating"

Radiometric dating is a method to find the absolute (numerical) age of a fossil, so this is absolute dating.

• Statement 3: "A fossil has undergone 2 half - lives of a radioactive isotope"

Using the concept of half - lives of radioactive isotopes is a way to calculate the absolute age of a fossil, so this is absolute dating.

• Statement 4: "Age of a fossil is found to be 61.1 million years old"

This gives a specific numerical age, so it is absolute dating.

So, the correct classification is:

• Relative dating (1/2): "In an excavation project, a set of fossils found at 5 meters down are younger than a second set of fossils found at 17 meters down."
• Absolute dating (2/2): "A fossil analyzed with radiometric dating", "A fossil has undergone 2 half - lives of a radioactive isotope", "Age of a fossil is found to be 61.1 million years old"

Answer:

To solve the problem of classifying the statements under relative dating or absolute dating, we analyze each statement:

Relative Dating (1/2)

Relative dating determines the age of a fossil by comparing its position (or other relationships) to other fossils/rock layers, without giving a numerical age.

• Statement 1: "In an excavation project, a set of fossils found at 5 meters down are younger than a second set of fossils found at 17 meters down."

This compares the age of two fossil sets based on their depth (deeper layers are older), so it is relative dating.

Absolute Dating (2/2)

Absolute dating gives a numerical (or specific) age of a fossil, often using radiometric dating or half - life calculations.

• Statement 2: "A fossil analyzed with radiometric dating"

Radiometric dating is a method to find the absolute (numerical) age of a fossil, so this is absolute dating.

• Statement 3: "A fossil has undergone 2 half - lives of a radioactive isotope"

Using the concept of half - lives of radioactive isotopes is a way to calculate the absolute age of a fossil, so this is absolute dating.

• Statement 4: "Age of a fossil is found to be 61.1 million years old"

This gives a specific numerical age, so it is absolute dating.

So, the correct classification is:

• Relative dating (1/2): "In an excavation project, a set of fossils found at 5 meters down are younger than a second set of fossils found at 17 meters down."
• Absolute dating (2/2): "A fossil analyzed with radiometric dating", "A fossil has undergone 2 half - lives of a radioactive isotope", "Age of a fossil is found to be 61.1 million years old"