All living things are radioactive due to the presence of 14 6 C which undergoes

Question

All living things are radioactive due to the presence of 14 6 C which undergoes beta decay, emitting an electron. The half-life of 14 6 C is 5730 y. In live specimens, the level of 14 6 C present is constant. After death, the decay of 14 6 C slowly reduces the amount of 14 6 C present. Each gram of a live specimen emits 15.3 electrons per minute. An animal bone found at an archaeological site emits 88 electrons per minute. Its mass is 13.2 g. How old (years) is the bone? (How long ago did the animal die?) Give the answer to 2 signi?cant ?gures.

Explanation / Answer

Bone activity

Q = 88/13.2 e/g-min
Q0 = 15.3 e/g-min
Age = halflife*-log2(Q/Q0)

= 5730*-ln((88/13.2)/15.3)/ln(2) =6867yr

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