Absolute Age Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate the Absolute Age (t) is:

$t = \frac{T_{1/2} \cdot \log(1 + \frac{D}{P})}{\log(2)}$

Where:

$t$ is the Absolute Age of the sample (years)
$T_{1/2}$ is the Half-Life of the Parent Isotope (years)
$D$ is the Amount of Daughter Isotope
$P$ is the Amount of Parent Isotope

What is Absolute Age?

Absolute age is a measure of the actual age of a geological or archaeological sample in years. Unlike relative age, which only determines the order of events, absolute age provides a quantifiable age. This is typically determined through radiometric dating methods, which measure the decay of radioactive isotopes within the sample. By knowing the half-life of the parent isotope and the ratio of parent to daughter isotopes, scientists can calculate the time that has elapsed since the sample formed.

Example

Let's say the half-life (T_1/2) is 5730 years, the amount of daughter isotope (D) is 75, and the amount of parent isotope (P) is 25. Using the formula:

$t = \frac{5730 \cdot \log(1 + \frac{75}{25})}{\log(2)} \approx 11460 \text{ years}$

So, the Absolute Age (t) is approximately 11460 years.