Question

How are relative dating and absolute dating different?

Relative dating gives the order in which a rock layer formed compared to those around it by using layering and fossils, while absolute dating can give the age in years by using half-lives of radioisotopes.


While both relative and absolute dating can give the age of a rock layer in years, relative dating uses radioisotopes and absolute dating uses layering order and fossils.


Relative dating can give the age in years by using fossils and layering order, while absolute dating can only tell whether one rock layer came before