A sample of parchment produces 10.3 disintegrations of ¹⁴C per minute per gram of carbon. Estimate the age of the parchment, assuming the original activity was 15.3 disintegrations per minute per gram of carbon. (t_1/2 = 5730 years)

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The age can be estimated using the formula for radioactive decay: N(t) = N0 * (1/2)^(t/t1/2). Solving for t gives approximately 3,300 years.

A Sample of Parchment Produces 10