Using Melting Ice to Teach Radiometric Dating
https://serc.carleton.edu/quantskills/activities/ice_melt.html

Donald Wise, Carleton College Science Education Resource Center


In this activity, introductory geology students are challenged to a Sherlock Holmes-style mystery in which they construct their own decay curves of melting ice to determine time-zero. In the process, the analogies to radiometric dating and some elementary thermodynamics are discussed. This website outlines teaching notes and tips, provides a list of necessary and suggested materials, and has additional information about the source of the activity.


Subject: Geoscience:Geology:Geochemistry:Radioisotopes
Resource Type: Activities:Classroom Activity
Theme: Teach the Earth:Course Topics:Geochemistry