An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 79% of the original carbon-14 was still present, what is its probable age (to the nearest 100 years)? Use that carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years.
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Planet A has an average surface temperature of _170%. Planet B has an avergage surface temperature that is 5/5 times that of Planet A. Find the avergae surface temerature on planet B.
To determine the probable age of the artifact, we can use the concept of half-life.
The half-life of carbon-14 is given as 5,730 years, which means that after each 5,730 years, only half of the carbon-14 remains.
In this case, the artifact is said to have 79% of the original carbon-14, which means that 79% of it remains and 21% has decayed.
We can set up an equation to find the number of half-lives that have passed:
0.79 = (1/2)^(n)
Where "n" represents the number of half-lives that have passed.
To solve for "n," we can take the logarithm base 2 of both sides of the equation:
log2(0.79) = n * log2(1/2)
Using a calculator, the left side of the equation is approximately -0.285, and the right side is -n. So, we can rearrange the equation:
n = -0.285 / (-log2(1/2))
n = 0.285 / 0.693
n ≈ 0.411
Therefore, approximately 0.411 half-lives have passed.
To determine the number of years, we multiply the number of half-lives by the half-life of carbon-14:
Number of years = 0.411 * 5,730
Number of years ≈ 2,354
Hence, the probable age of the artifact is approximately 2,354 years.