Carbon and Potassium Argon Dating essays

Carbon and Potassium Argon Dating essays There are two dating techniques I will quickly discuss. The first I will address is carbon dating, the second is Potassium-Argon dating. Carbon is used for the dating of once living material. To begin, there are three principle isotopes of carbon which occur naturally. These are C12, C13 and C14. Of these three, the first two are stable while the third is unstable, or radioactive which means it will slowly decay. The radiocarbon method is based on this decay or the rate of decay of the radioactive or unstable carbon isotope 14 (14C), which is formed in the upper atmosphere through the effect of cosmic ray neutrons upon nitrogen 14. The reaction is: (Where n is a neutron and p is a proton). Now, C14 is rapidly oxidized into 14CO2 which enters the planets animal life through photosynthesis and the animal food chain. C14 will also disperse into the oceans as dissolved carbonate. Since all life is made up of carbon, all life will intake carbon into the organism, in approximately the same natural ratios that C12, C13 and C14 exist in the atmosphere. These ratios remain steady until the organism dies. At which point its metabolism starts and C14 slowly begins to seep out (decay). This decay is what is measured. However radiocarbon dating is only usable for a dating span of about 1,000,000 years ago. Potassium-Argon dating is the only viable technique for dating very old archaelogical materials. This method has been used to date rocks up to 4 billion years old (almost the creation of the earth). Potassium-Argon dating is based on the fact that some of the radioactive isotope of Potassium-40 (K-40), decays to the gas Argon as Argon-40 (Ar-40). By comparing the ratios of K-40 to Ar-40 in a sample of volcanic rock when you know the decay rate of K-40, then date that the rock formed can be determined. This dating technique is possible because when rocks are heated to their melting point, any Ar-40 ...

Ellen Fairclough Biography

Ellen Fairclough Biography About Ellen Fairclough Ellen Fairclough became the first Canadian woman federal cabinet minister when she was appointed Secretary of State by Prime Minister Diefenbaker in 1957. Vivacious, intelligent and competent, Ellen Fairclough had a mixed record in cabinet. Her attempt to restrict family immigration sponsorships to immediate family members caused an uproar in the Italian community, but she was successful in introducing regulations that largely removed racial discrimination from Canadian immigration policy. Birth January 28, 1905 in Hamilton, Ontario Death November 13, 2004 in Hamilton, Ontario Professions Before entering politics, Ellen Fairclough was a Chartered Accountant and owner of a Hamilton accounting firm.She was active in the Consumers Association of Canada, the Girl Guides, the I.O.D.E., the United Empire Loyalist Association, and the Zonta Club of Hamilton and Zonta International.After leaving politics, she worked in a trust company and was then chairman of Ontario Hydro.Ellen Fairclough published her memoirs Saturdays Child in 1995. Political Party Progressive Conservative Federal Riding (Electoral District) Hamilton West Political Career of Ellen Fairclough She was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in 1950. She was the only woman in the House of Commons until three others were elected in the 1953 general election. Ellen Fairclough was elected to Hamilton City Council in 1946. She served on the Hamilton City Council for five years until 1949.As Progressive Conservative labour critic, Ellen Fairclough introduced a private members bill requiring equal pay for equal work and advocated the creation of a Department of Labour Womens Bureau.With the election of a Conservative minority government in 1957, John Diefenbaker grudgingly appointed Ellen Fairclough to cabinet as Secretary of State. As Secretary of State, Ellen Fairclough initiated Dominion Day celebrations on Parliament Hill.The Conservatives won a majority government in 1958, and Ellen Fairclough was appointed Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. At the beginning of her time at Citizenship and Immigration, Ellen Fairclough ran into political problems, especially from the Italian community, when she tried to limit immigration family sponsorships to immediate family members, and was forced to back down. In 1962 however, she successfully b rought in regulations which went a long way towards the elimination of racial discrimination in Canadian immigration policy. She was moved to the Postmaster General portfolio in 1962.Ellen Fairclough was defeated in the 1963 election.