BRAINCAKEArgon dating
The radioactive isotope of potassium in ancient rocks decays into argon gas which becomes trapped in the rocks.
This occurs as a result of electron capture when an inner shell electron is captured by the nucleus.
A proton turns into a neutron and a neutrino is emitted.
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Key terms in this lesson
- Half-life
- The average time taken for the activity, or the number of undecayed nuclei, of a radioactive isotope to decrease to half its initial value.
More in Radioactivity
- Activity
- Radioactive Decay
- Decay Constant
- Radiocarbon dating
- Radioactive Tracers
- Thickness Monitoring and Engine Wear
- Power Sources
- N-Z Graph
All 25 lessons in Radioactivity · All AQA A-level Physics topics