Chapter 12Section 1 – How Did Life Begin?

The Age of the Earth

When Earth formed, about 4.5 billion years ago, it was a fiery ball of molten rock.Eventually, the planet’s surface cooled and formed a rocky crust. Water vapor in the atmosphere condensed to form vast oceans.

The Age of the Earth

Most scientists think life evolved in these oceans and that the evolution of life occurred over hundreds of millions of years.

Measuring Earth’s Age

Scientists have estimated the age of Earth using a technique called radiometric dating.