Chapter 14, Problem 34A

Summary Introduction

To explain:

The dating method in mass extinction.

Introduction:

Mass extinction is the event when there occurred loss of species on the mass level. This means almost all the species on the earth got extinct in a particular period of time. There occurred rapid loss of biodiversity from the earth, thus decreased the diversity level of the species.

Explanation of Solution

By studying fossil and its record, paleontologists were able to know the events which took place in the geological era. Various methods were used in order to determine the age of a fossil. There are two main methods of studying fossils namely, relative dating and absolute dating.

The dating method is used by the scientist to determine the age of rocks, fossils and artifacts.Relative dating helps to determine the relative age of the fossil by comparing it with similar types of rocks.In this method, it can be determined whether a sample is older or younger than another one. In absolute dating, the absolute years of the sample can be determined.

Conclusion

This concluded that by studying the fossils by the dating method, scientists can determine the relative or absolute age of a particular sample. Thus, this then can help in studying the mass extinction or any type of event which occurred in the history of life.