How do scientists figure out the age of substance use radiometric dating?

Scientists determine the age of substances using radiometric dating by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes present in the material. Each isotope decays at a known rate, characterized by its half-life, which is the time it takes for half of the isotope to transform into a stable form. By comparing the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter products, scientists can calculate the time that has elapsed since the substance was formed. This method is widely used in dating rocks, fossils, and archaeological artifacts.