Question

A wooden artifact is found in an ancient tomb. Its 14C activity is measured to be 66.3% of that in a fresh sample of wood from the same region. Assuming the same amount of 14C was initially presented in the wood from which the artifact was made, determine the age of the artifact. The half-life of 14C is 5730 y. Answer in units of y.

Answer 1

3396.53 years

Step-by-step explanation:

Using decay formula

In(
`(N)/(No)`) = -Kt where t is the age of the artifact in years and k is the decay constant

T1/2 =
`(In2)/(K)`

5730 =
`(In2)/(K)`

K = In 2 / 5730= 0.000121yr^-1

N / No = 0.663

In (0.663) / -0.000121 = t

t = 3396.53 years