An ancient tree is found which has a carbon-14 disintegration rate of 11.3 units.If the disintegration rate of a living tree is 14.0 units,calculate the age of the ancient tree.t_1/2 = 5.73 * 10³ years for carbon-14 and 0.807 of the sample remaining corresponds to 0.309 half-life.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ratio of the disintegration rates is 11.3/14.0 = 0.807, which corresponds to 0.309 half-lives. Using the half-life of carbon-14 (5.73 x 10^3 years), the age is 0.309 x 5.73 x 10^3 = 1.77 x 10^3 years.

An Ancient Tree Is Found Which Has a Carbon-14 Disintegration