2009/03/01 by T. J. Moran · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Psychology · #Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies #Chronology #Geology #Radiometric dating #Class (philosophy) #Archaeology #Mathematics education #Event (particle physics) #History #Paleontology #Psychology #Epistemology #Physics #Philosophy
paper · doi:10.5408/1.3544237
openalex publication_date 2009/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
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.