The half-life of ¹⁴C is 5730 years. Archaeologists dig up a seed that contains 0.25 parts per trillion ¹⁴C. If it originally contained 1 part per trillion ¹⁴C, how old is the archaeological specimen? A)11,460 years B)5730 years C)17,190 years D)22,920 years E)28,650 years

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The specimen is 11,460 years old because it has gone through two half-lives (from 1 part per trillion to 0.5, then to 0.25), each lasting 5730 years.

The Half-Life of 14C Is 5730 Years

The Half-Life of ¹⁴C Is 5730 Years