The difference between absolute and relative dating lies in how they determine the age of objects or events:
- Absolute Dating: This method provides a specific numerical age or range for an object or event. It uses techniques such as radiometric dating (e.g., carbon dating) to determine an exact age, often in years. For example, carbon-14 dating can determine the age of organic materials by measuring the decay of radioactive carbon.
- Relative Dating: This method determines the age of an object or event in comparison to another. It doesn’t give a specific number but places items in chronological order. It uses techniques such as stratigraphy (the study of rock layers) and the principle of superposition (younger layers are deposited on top of older ones) to estimate the sequence of events.