If a fossil bone is found to contain 1/16th as much Carbon-14 as the bone of a living animal,what is the approximate age of the fossil? (half-life of ¹⁴C = 5730 years)

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fossil contains 1/16th of the original Carbon-14, which means it has gone through 4 half-lives (since 1/2^4 = 1/16). Each half-life is 5730 years, so 4 half-lives is 4 * 5730 = 22,920 years, which is approximately 22,900 years.

If a Fossil Bone Is Found to Contain 1/16th as Much