Radiocarbon Dating: % of C-14 Remaining in 41,000 Yr Sample

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem related to radiocarbon dating, specifically determining the percentage of carbon-14 remaining in a sample that is 41,000 years old.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the variables involved in the radiocarbon dating equation and question which variables are known or can be determined. There is discussion about identifying the half-life of carbon-14 and its relevance to the problem.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some offering guidance on identifying known variables and suggesting looking up the half-life of carbon-14. There is an acknowledgment of the initial percentage of carbon-14, but no consensus on the remaining percentage has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of the problem statement and are attempting to clarify the relationships between the variables involved in radiocarbon dating.

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Homework Statement


The practical limit to ages that can be determined by radiocarbon dating is about 41000 yr. in a 41000 yr old sample, what percentage of the original carbon-14 remains?

Homework Equations



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The Attempt at a Solution


I don't know where to start...
 
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Look at the variables in that equation. Which of them do you know, or can find out? And which represent the thing you're trying to find?
 
diazona said:
Look at the variables in that equation. Which of them do you know, or can find out? And which represent the thing you're trying to find?

I think t=41000, N/No is what i need?
But how do you determine the half life?
 
Last edited:
Look it up. I think you should find something like 5700 years.
 
N_0 is the initial percentage of carbon-14, so it would be 100. So we need to find what percentage remains.
 
Last edited:
I see,ty!
 

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