If a fossil was found that had 50% radioactive carbon-14 and 50% decayed element, approximately how old is the fossil?
Question
If a fossil was found that had 50% radioactive carbon-14 and 50% decayed element, approximately how old is the fossil?
Solution
The age of a fossil can be determined using Carbon-14 dating. Carbon-14 has a half-life of about 5,730 years. This means that after 5,730 years, half of the Carbon-14 in a sample will have decayed into Nitrogen-14.
In this case, the fossil has 50% radioactive Carbon-14 and 50% decayed element. This indicates that one half-life has passed since the death of the organism. Therefore, the fossil is approximately 5,730 years old.
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