Carbon-14 dating assumes that the carbon dioxide on Earth today has the same radioactive

Chapter 6, Problem 42

(choose chapter or problem)

Carbon Dating   Carbon-14 dating assumes that the carbon dioxide on Earth today has the same radioactive content as it did centuries ago. If this is true, the amount of \({ }^{14} \mathrm{C}\) absorbed by a tree that grew several centuries ago should be the same as the amount of \({ }^{14} \mathrm{C}\) absorbed by a tree growing today. A piece of ancient charcoal contains only 15% as much of the radioactive carbon as a piece of modern charcoal. How long ago was the tree burned to make the ancient charcoal? (The half-life of \({ }^{14} \mathrm{C}\) is 5715 years.)

Text Transcription:

^14C