How have meteorites helped scientists determine the age of the Earth and the formation of the solar system?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Scientist study and determine the age of the meteorites.

melodydude · Answer

The ages of Earth and Moon rocks and of meteorites are measured by the decay of long-lived radioactive isotopes of elements that occur naturally in rocks and minerals and that decay with half lives of 700 million to more than 100 billion years to stable isotopes of other elements. These dating techniques, which are firmly grounded in physics and are known collectively as radiometric dating, are used to measure the last time that the rock being dated was either melted or disturbed sufficiently to rehomogenize its radioactive elements. (Cred to-USGS)