Radioactive dating: Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5730 y. A sample of wood has been recovered by an archaeologist. The sample is sent to a laboratory, where it is determined that the activity of the sample is 0.144 Bq/g. By comparing this activity with the activity of living organic matter, 0.230 Bq/g, the scientist determines how old the wood sample is, or more precisely, when the tree that the sample came from died. How old is the sample of wood?

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The age of the sample can be calculated using the formula for radioactive decay, which involves the half-life of the substance. Given the current activity (0.144 Bq/g) and the original activity (0.230 Bq/g), we can use the formula $N = N_0 \times (1/2)^{t/T}$, where $N$ is the remaining quantity of the substance, $N_0$ is the original quantity, $t$ is the time elapsed, and $T$ is the half-life of the substance. Solving for $t$ gives us an age of approximately 3870 years.

Radioactive Dating: Carbon-14 Has a Half-Life of 5730 Y