D = D0 + D* Therefore, D = D0 + N (e λ t – 1) or, for small λ t, D = D0 + N λ t , This is the basic radioactive decay equation used for determining ages of rocks, minerals and the isotopes themselves. D and N can be measured and λ has been experimentally determined for nearly all known unstable nuclides.

What is radiometric dating method?

Radiometric dating is a method of establishing how old something is – perhaps a wooden artefact, a rock, or a fossil – based on the presence of a radioactive isotope within it. Radiometric dating is useful for finding the age of ancient things, because many radioactive materials decay at a slow rate.