Carbon dating and applications
Nuclear Chemistry · Chemistry
Study notes
A wooden artefact shows ¹⁴C activity 0.25× that of living wood. Estimate its age. Step 1: A/A₀ = 0.25 = (½)² → two half-lives elapsed. Step 2: t = 2 × 5730 = 11,460 years. Step 3: Formula check: t = (5730/0.693)·ln(4) = 8267 × 1.386 ≈ 11,460 yr. ✓ Step 4: Works because cosmic rays keep atmospheric ¹⁴C/¹²C steady while alive.