¹⁴C has a half- life of 6000 years. An ancient corpse is uncovered and found to have 1/32-- one thirty- second-- of the normal amount of ¹⁴C found in the bodies of people now living. How long has the body been dead? A) 30,000 years B) 24,000 years C) 12,000 years D) 36,000 years E) 6000 years

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The body has gone through 5 half-lives (since 1/32 is 2^(-5)), and each half-life is 6000 years, so 5 * 6000 = 30,000 years.

14C Has a Half- Life of 6000 Years

¹⁴C Has a Half- Life of 6000 Years