Which methods for measuring the age of Earth and its parts use absolute dating? A. radioactive dating and carbon dating B. carbon dating and historical research C. the law of superposition and radioactive dating D. the law of conserve ation of mass and carbon dating All rights reserved

## Step 1<br />The question is asking about the methods used for absolute dating, which is a method of determining the actual age of an object or event. This is different from relative dating, which only provides an order of events.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />Option A, "radioactive dating and carbon dating", both fall under the category of absolute dating. Radioactive dating, also known as radiometric dating, measures the decay of radioactive isotopes in rocks and minerals to determine their age. Carbon dating, on the other hand, measures the amount of carbon-14 left in an object to determine its age.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />Option B, "carbon dating and historical research", is not a method of absolute dating. Historical research is a method of relative dating, which provides an order of events but not the actual age.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />Option C, "the law of superposition and radioactive dating", is a mix of relative and absolute dating methods. The law of superposition is a method of relative dating, while radioactive dating is a method of absolute dating.<br /><br />## Step 5<br />Option D, "the law of conservation of mass and carbon dating", is not a method of absolute dating. The law of conservation of mass is a fundamental principle in physics and chemistry, not a method of dating.