Abstract Radioactive dating is the process of determining the age of rocks and other specimens from the decay of their radioactive elements. By applying this information, geologists are able to decipher the 4.6-billion-year history of the earth. The paper introduces the history of this type of dating in chronological order. It discusses other issues related to radioactive dating such as Carbon-14 dating, fission track dating, Potassium Argon Dating, the Rubidium-Strontium method, lead-alpha age and debated ideas of radioactive dating.
From the Paper "Cosmic rays from the sun strike nitrogen 14 atoms in the earth's atmosphere and cause nitrogen atoms to lose a proton making it a carbon isotope this then turns into radioactive carbon 14, which combines with oxygen to form radioactive carbon dioxide. All living things are in equilibrium with the atmosphere, and the radioactive carbon dioxide is absorbed from the air and used by green plants. Then the radioactive carbon dioxide gets passed on through the plants into the food chain and the carbon cycle. All living things contain a constant ratio of Carbon 14 to Carbon 12 of about 1 in a trillion. The amount of carbon 14 lost in a species is continually replenished as long as it still takes in food and oxygen. At death, the exchange of carbon 14 ceases and any that is left in the tissues of the organism begins to decay to Nitrogen 14, this is not replenished by any new C-14. The change in the Carbon 14 to Carbon 12 ratio is the basis for dating this dating technique. The half-life is so short (5730 years) that this method can only be used on materials less than 70,000 years old. A lot of archaeological dating uses this method. It is also very useful in attempting to date remnants of the ice ages (Pleistocene epoch.)"
Tags: Marie, Pierre, Curie, Clair, Patterson, U, 235, atom
Abstract There are many techniques for dating within the field of archaeology, one of these methods is the The K-Ar (Potassium-Argon) method which has been a vast success within the field of geology. This paper examines how it works and what methods are used to glean the date from archaeological artifacts and remains.
From the Paper "It is possible to date rocks with a low potassium content such as basalts in this way. Sadly the dates are not always secure due to the behaviour of the geochemicals of the parent and daughter elements as they are likely to being disturbed by geological events such as weathering or reheating that normally take place during the formation of a rock. Potassium argon dating allows scientists to date volcanic rocks between two billion and 100,000 years old."
Abstract This paper discusses that concerns have been raised about a rising concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The paper explains that the issue has been examined using climate models, such as the one called EDGCM based on a 120 year long model run, starting in 1985 with an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The paper relates that a global climate model such as this allows for a study of climates in the past present and future.
From the Paper "Such computer-driven models are one of the primary tools now used in climate research. The EDGCM model also serves as a learning tool for students and provides data to the public in a more easily-accessed manner than is true of some other models ("EDGCM: The Project" paras. 1-3)."
Abstract This paper explains that numerous factors account for variations of global patterns of carbon accumulation. The author points out that some of these factors are climate, precipitation, cultivation, degree of irrigation,and altitude. The paper relates that also very significant, especially for tropical and temperate forests, are the measurement standards applied.
From the Paper "Numerous factors account for variations of global patterns of carbon accumulation. Among those factors are climate, soil texture, soil cultivation, amount of nitrogen in soils, and the interaction of altitude and precipitation. Also very significant especially for tropical and temperate forests are the standards applied; not only do these studies use differing measurements depending on the ecosystem, but variations in measurements must often be used within a single ecosystem because of forest floor diversity (Schlesinger, 1977). One factor is geomorphological and/or hydrological instability in swamp and marsh, especially when edged by tree growth."
Abstract The paper introduces archaeology, and explains that the concept of dating is central to the science of archaeology. Two broad categories of dating, relative and absolute, are introduced, and four major specific types of dating are presented to the reader; stratigraphy, dendrochronology, obsidian hydration dating, and radiocarbon dating. Each of the four methods are discussed in great detail, each with a closing paragraph devoted to the underlying problems with that particular method. For example, the section on stratigraphy begins with a brief history of the method itself, and introduces such concepts as the law of superposition, temporal sequences of data within stratified deposits, context evaluation, and determining age through the relative position of superimposed artifacts. The negatives of stratigraphy are then discussed, and include deformation, overlapping and reverse stratigraphy, and the method is evaluated on the whole. This format is then applied to the other three types of dating discussed. Finally, a concluding paragraph states that although the four types of dating discussed are infinitely valuable to archaeologists all over the world, there are still problems associated with each that need to be accounted for when using them to address the age of fossilized remains and other artifacts.
From the Paper "Archaeology is the study of past human cultures, and archaeologists must uncover and interpret material remains in order to reconstruct past ways of life. To understand the purposes of these remains, Archaeologists have the task of constructing a chronology of prehistory, using various dating methods. ?Without knowing the age of materials, little can be said about the activity that made them part of the site (David L. Webster, Susan Toby Evans & William T. Sanders, 1993: 128).? Dating is defined as the placement in time of events relative to one another or to any established scale of temporal measurement (Jeffrey S. Dean, 1981: 375). Dating methods used by Archaeologist incorporate the scientific method and have the advantages of objectification, application to isolated cultural sequences, and an expanded span of human prehistory for which an absolute chronology can be built (Keith Brannigan, 1974: 100-101). Scientific methods of dating are invaluable for the prehistoric periods and have revolutionized the archaeologists? ideas about the absolute chronology of the prehistoric culture sequence (Brannigan, 1974: 101), yet each of these scientific methods has many difficulties. Dating techniques fall into two categories"relative and absolute"and include the following: seriation, ceramic dating, potassium argon dating, thermoluminescence dating, archaeomagnetic dating, fission track dating, stratigraphy, dendrochronology, obsidian hydration dating, and radiocarbon dating. This paper will discuss the latter four methods, with an emphasis on the shortcomings of each."
Abstract This paper examines aggressive sexual behavior as it occurs in dating situations among young adults. The author presents salient statistics showing how widespread this problem is. The paper further describes the combinations of interactions in which dating violence may happen. The paper discusses dating violence toward boys, as well as girls.
Outline:
Dating Violence and Its Prevalence
Dating and Dating Violence, Sexual in Nature
Men Upset more by Sexual infidelity; Women, by Emotional Infidelity
Young Women at a Greater Risk of Victimization
A Most Fatal Consequence: STDs
But Boys Get Victimized, Too
From the Paper " There is a difference in the motivation for aggression between the genders. Evolutionary psychology has argued that men are more upset by their partner's sexual infidelity than women are but that women are more upset by their partner's emotional infidelity than are men (Forbes 2005). It identified jealousy as the proximal cause of relationship violence. It would, then, expect men to engage in more frequent and severe relationship violence in response to sexual infidelity than to emotional infidelity. In contract, women would resort to more frequent and severe relationship violence on account of emotional infidelity (Forbes et al)."
Tags:dating, date, rape, sexual, aggression, violence, against, women
Abstract This paper discusses the topic of dating in the United States and shows how technology has affected dating in the last 50 years. The paper shows the impact of technology during this period on dating patterns of "young adults", namely, those aged 13-30, depending on the social norm of the decade. Dating has always been a ritual by which young adults find themselves and discover their sexuality while trying out potential long-term mates. The paper explains that, today, dating has changed considerably due to advances in technology, such as films, MTV, and the Internet.
From the Paper "The partners no longer need to be in the same room, car, or theater, they can be hundreds of miles away from each other and still date online. They can view films together, listen to the same music, and play games all over the Internet. They can chat whenever they want via Instant Messenger or email. The Internet has taken dating to another level, and has proved to be an excellent way for people to meet other people with the same interests and ideals."
Abstract This paper offers a definition of dating violence and provides examples of incidents of dating violence. The paper also examines evidence concerning the extent of dating violence and looks at suggested ways of coping how to deal with it. Additionally, the paper discusses the underlying motivation of dating violence.
Abstract The paper examines the issue of date rape, noting that it is not new, but that in the past authorities often viewed the victim as at least partially responsible for putting herself in the situation in the first place. The paper adds that also a reasonable doubt might be raised by the fact that the rapist and the victim were on a date at the time, so that a defense might be made that crossed signals were at fault rather than criminal intent. "
From the Paper "Rape has long been addressed by the criminal justice system as a crime, though how assiduously the system raises the issue and makes its case depends on a variety of circumstances and prevailing social attitudes. More recently, attitudes have changed so that claims of date rape are taken more seriously, and in addition, today there are certain drugs used for date rape and acquaintance rape, adding to the problem."
Abstract This paper discusses online dating websites and addresses the frequently asked question of "Do these websites have a negative impact on their users?" Some research studies have shown that such websites cause individuals to withdraw from their lives off-line and isolate them from family and friends. Other research argues that online communities simply expand the social arena available to individuals. This paper examines the research on both sides of the argument.
From the Paper "The reach and interactivity of the Internet has allowed websites that bring people together to flourish. Online dating and match-making services have become highly lucrative businesses. But have these online dating communities come at the cost of true, old-fashioned human interaction? Does the Internet isolate individuals from their "real-life" communities, or does it simply expand our ideas about what a community really is?"
Abstract This is an anthropological paper rooted in discussions with university students of different East Asian origins, mainly in Toronto. The paper refers to literature that tends to criticize cultural conflicts and those of generations, whereas students appreciate some aspects of their families of origin and note how Toronto offers many choices due to large, well-established East Asian communities. The writer points out that students were more inclined to joke about tradition and parents' ideas, than to complain about them. The writer also discusses dating, a 20th century phenomenon in East Cultures, that takes on forms of its own and can be superior to other social life for students.
From the Paper "For a Canadian post-secondary student of East Asian origin this paper was interesting to research. It is clear that young people of East Asian heritage gain other views of proper social life than in the day of their parents or grandparents. The 20th century saw the creation of a new courtship in East Asian countries and cultures as explained in Kendall's study of Korean cultural change. If one sees a broader world of Chinese-influenced cultures that are very old, it is predictable that some ideas linger and students who contributed to this paper did not see them as binding or 'bad'."
Abstract A paper which explains the beginning of radioactive dating - a process which can give scientists the age of rocks and other materials and help us to identify when Earth began. The paper explores the progression of this method and its uses today, as well as discusses different methods that are used, other than carbon-12, such as potassium or argon dating.
From the Paper "Many view radioactivity as the end of the world in the event of a nuclear war. With its astonishing power, radioactivity could perhaps destroy and thus end the world. What many don't know about radioactivity is that is has the potential to tell scientists the age - or the beginning - of the Earth. Quite ironically, radioactivity could very well be responsible for both showing the beginning and the ending of Earth. A process called radiometric dating can give scientists the age of rocks and other materials and help us to identify when Earth began."
Abstract This paper examines how both carbon-14 and uranium-238 are used to date fossils and how both methods are based on measuring the decay that has occurred in these elements. It looks at how carbon-14 dating is used for organic material, plants and animals, while uranium-238 is used primarily for geographic formations. It also discusses how both methods of dating are subject to potential sample contamination and, therefore, inaccurate readings; the addition of foreign material in both types of samples can provide either younger or older results, dependent on the material.
From the Paper "Radioactive elements decay at unique rates, dependant on the isotope. This rate of decay is known as half-lives, it is the time necessary for ? of the atoms to decay in a particular element. The decay follows a geometric scale, in that in the first half-life of an element, ? of the atoms decay, yet in the second half-life, ? of those remaining decay, meaning a ? of the original atoms decay, and so forth. By measuring this decay, and knowing the half life of an element, scientists can date a sample."
Abstract This paper explores the concepts of carbon and ecological neutrality, the ecological footprint and the carbon footprint. The paper first explains how these concepts are measured. The paper then discusses solutions to reduce the levels of carbon emissions while decreasing mankind's overall ecological footprint.
Outline:
Carbon Neutral and the Footprint of Humanity
The Carbon and Ecological Footprint
Solutions to Reduce the Damage to the Environment
From the Paper "The concept of being carbon neutral means to not damage the environment through Co2 emissions, which may be accomplished in two ways. One is to do absolutely no polluting; however in modern society this is not particularly possible, with the other being to match destruction with reduction, thus balancing things out. This concept however is founded upon the concepts of the footprints made by humanity. The human race is a population of consumers in every sense. All opportunities to utilize something towards progress or profit are capitalized upon. The earth as well as the population is harvested for its value, taking it and placing it upon the open market in the endless pursuit of capital generation. In tandem with this mass consumption is also heavy waste, as not all resources are infinite, and particular ways of life are not geared towards conservation."
Abstract This paper attempts to show how, by analyzing greenhouse gas uptake via measuring the trunks of different ages of tree stands, an estimate of carbon content can be derived. It looks at how the amount of carbon dioxide present helps to determine the success of the regeneration of deforested areas and the effects of mitigating global warming. It tests the difference in carbon accumulation in different age stands of trees to see which is most helpful in carbon accumulation and aiding in the fight against global warming.
Outline
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
From the Paper "The data we collected is vital to the reduction of greenhouse gases and necessary decrease of global warming in this day and age. Awareness is key to this situation due to the fact that roughly 25% of annual greenhouse gas emissions from human activities come from the United States (Rubin et al, 1992). By knowing the proper means of reduction of carbon emissions, one can contribute to the conservation of the planet, and live a healthier lifestyle. Maintaining healthy young forests is crucial to reducing the effects of emissions. Carbon uptake is strongest in trees before 50 years of age. Therefore, deforestation and reforestation techniques are important in the window of time after this stage. By clearing out forests and planting new trees, carbon mitigation will increase again over the next period of 50 years."
