Homework Help: Intro to Astronomy

Posted by M.T. on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:00pm.

The half-life of carbon 14, which is commonly used to date organic materials, is 5700 years. What is the minimum age of sample in which less than 1% of the organic carbon 14 is left?

Intro to Astronomy - drwls, Friday, February 10, 2012 at 8:57am
If 1% is left,
(0.01) = (0.5)^N
where N is the number of half-lives.

N = 6.644
minimum age = 37,900 years

There will be less than 1% left if the sample is older than that, so that is a minimum age.

There is not much about astronomy here

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