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carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years. if a sample contains 80 mg originally, how much is left after 17,190 years?

User Mictter
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1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

After 17,190 years, the amount of carbon-14 left would be approximately 5 mg.

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years, which means that every 5,730 years, half of the remaining carbon-14 decays. To calculate the amount of carbon-14 remaining after 17,190 years, we can use the formula:

A = A0 * (1/2)^(t/T)

where:

A0 is the initial amount (80 mg)

t is the time elapsed (17,190 years)

T is the half-life (5,730 years)

A = 80 * (1/2)^(17,190/5,730)

A = 80 * (1/2)^3

A = 80 * (1/8)

A = 10 mg * 1/2

A = 5 mg

User Petrusion
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