SOLUTION: The radioactive element carbon-14 has a half-life of 5750 years. The percentage of carbon-14 present in the remains of plants and animals can be used to determine age. How old is a
Algebra.Com
Question 363543: The radioactive element carbon-14 has a half-life of 5750 years. The percentage of carbon-14 present in the remains of plants and animals can be used to determine age. How old is a skeleton that has lost 40% of its carbon-14?
Note: Do not round any numbers during your calculation.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The radioactive element carbon-14 has a half-life of 5750 years.
The percentage of carbon-14 present in the remains of plants and
animals can be used to determine age.
How old is a skeleton that has lost 40% of its carbon-14?
Note: Do not round any numbers during your calculation.
:
Using the half-life formula: A = Ao*2^(-t/h)
Where
A = resulting amt after t yrs
Ao = initial amt
t = time
h = half-life of substance
:
Assume the initial amt = 1, remaining amt after t yrs = .6
:
1*2^(-t/5750) = .6
using nat logs
ln(2) = ln(.6)
=
ln(2) = -.736955942
t = -5750 * -.736955942
t = 4,237.55 yrs
RELATED QUESTIONS
A radioactive substance has a decay rate of 1.8% per year. What is its half life? Give... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)
The radioactive element carbon-14 has a half-life of 5750 years. A scientist... (answered by ikleyn,josgarithmetic)
Only 15% of the carbon-14 in a wooden bowl remains. How old is the bowl? (Carbon-14 has a (answered by josgarithmetic)
A skeleton contains one hundredth of its original amount of its original amount of... (answered by stanbon)
I dont understand whats a half life? How do i get this answer?
The amount of carbon... (answered by rothauserc)
an artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 87% of the original... (answered by stanbon)
An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 82% of the original... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)
An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 79% of the original... (answered by stanbon)
An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 72% of the original... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)