the radioactive isotope we measure in carbon dating is: 

-carbon14 

how does c14 get into organic matter?

-c14 is created in the upper atmosphere

-it falls over the earth evenly

-organisms take it into their bodies during their lives

-at death they stop bringing it into their bodies, thus setting the clock 

the half life of c14 is: 

we can confidently measure the half-lives of a radioactive isotope up until: 

-8 half lives 

at eight half lives of c14: 

-45000 years have passed

--this means carbon is only useful for dating for this long 

radiometric dating techniques are:

-absolute dating techneiques

-done by measureig the decay of radioactive isotopes  into daughters

-measuring half lives 

a half life is: 

-the amount of time it takes a radioactive isotope to decay half way 

what is the most precise arch dating method? 

-dendrochronology 

callibration curves are: 

-used to correct the fluctuations in c14 dating because of changing radioactive fall out

-from dendrochronolgy 

radiopotassium dating is: 

a method of radiometric dating for rocks

can date the oldest rocks on eart because of very long half life

daughter product=argon 40 

the 6 teqchniques of absolute dating are: 

-carbon14 dating

 -potassium dating

-dendrochronology

-fission dating

-luminescense dating

-paeleomagnetic dating 

tools are: 

the objects ppl use to do things 

techniques are: 

the ways in which ppl do things 

technology is: 

the combination of tools, materials, and techniques put together with the knowledge of how to use them in  a cultural context