The half- life of carbon- 14 is about 5730 years. Assume that a sample of charcoal formed by burning wood that lived 15,000 years ago. How much of the original carbon- 14 would remain today?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5730 years, meaning after 5730 years, half of the original amount remains. After 15,000 years, which is a little over two half-lives (2 x 5730 = 11,460 years), less than a quarter but more than an eighth of the original carbon-14 would remain.

The Half- Life of Carbon- 14 Is About 5730 Years