The age of fossils can sometimes be determined by radiometric dating, which is b

Question

The age of fossils can sometimes be determined by radiometric dating, which is based on the constant rate of decay of radioactive isotopes. The time required for half of a radioactive isotope to decay is called the half-life of that isotope. For example, the isotope carbon-14 has a half-life of 5, 730 years. Suppose it is determined that a fossilized leaf contains 12.5% of the carbon-14 that was present when the fossil formed. How old is the fossil? Express your answer numerically. Only a very small percentage of organisms actually Based on the information in the table below, rank the abundance of fossils of organisms A-E.

Explanation / Answer

Answer:

17190 years

12.5 % C14

T1/2 of C14 = 5,730 years

12.5% ----->25%----->50%------->100%

It has crossed three half lifes = 5,730 x 3 = 17190 years

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