Final answer:
Carbon dating is ineffective for determining the age of artifacts that are 100,000 years old due to the short half-life of carbon-14, which decreases to negligible amounts over such a long timescale.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a valuable technique for determining the age of organic materials by measuring the decay of carbon-14 isotopes. However, its utility is limited for artifacts that are 100,000 years old or older. The reason lies in the relatively short half-life of carbon-14, which is approximately 5,730 years. As carbon-14 undergoes radioactive decay, its abundance decreases over time.
For artifacts older than approximately 60,000 years, the remaining carbon-14 isotopes become so sparse that they are challenging to detect accurately. The decay process reduces the quantity of carbon-14 to such an extent that the method loses its precision for dating artifacts in this age range.
To determine the age of artifacts beyond the scope of carbon dating, scientists turn to isotopes with longer half-lives, such as uranium-238. Uranium dating methods, like uranium-lead dating, are more suitable for estimating the age of materials that span geological timescales, extending far beyond the capabilities of carbon dating. By leveraging isotopes with extended half-lives, researchers can unlock insights into the ancient past, providing a broader chronological perspective on the timelines of geological formations and ancient artifacts.
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