Calculate Earth's Age: Physics Method w/ College AP Physics

[Skynt]

I'm in a college Physics AP course, and I was wondering:

Is there any way to calculate the age of the Earth using just a easily understandable physics method?

 

[tony873004]

I believe carbon dating of zircons gives the oldest age. Most of the surface has been recycled into the mantle several times, but I believe some is still original. Read this from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zircon#Zircons_and_the_age_of_Earth

 

[D H]

I believe carbon dating of zircons gives the oldest age.

Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5730 years, so it is not applicable to dating the Earth. Those rocks were never alive and are a lot older than 60,000 years. They do, however, contain uranium and thorium. Those elements can be used to date the rocks.

 

[noagname]

really really old

 

[Loren Booda]

Speculation: consider the radioactive core as a nuclear reactor to date the Earth's coalescence (not so easy a method).

 

[Claude Bile]

I think Tony meant to say radiometric dating, not Carbon-dating, judging from the link.

Claude.