Question

John is assisting a geologist who has traveled across the world and collected a few samples. He asks John to classify the samples that can be dated using Carbon-14 and Uranium-235 (or U-235). All organic materials contain carbon and are dated using C-14; inorganic materials are dated using any radioactive element, such as uranium, rubidium, potassium, and thorium, except carbon. Now help John group the samples.

Drag the appropriate items to their respective bins. each item may be used only once.
1. Granite
2. Wood piece
3. Egyptian mummies
4. Sand stone
5. Gneisses

Carbon-14 dating ____________
U-235 dating ____________

Answer 1

To classify the samples, wood pieces and Egyptian mummies can be dated using Carbon-14 since they are organic, while Granite, Sandstone, and Gneisses can be dated using Uranium-235 as they are inorganic.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process of classifying samples by their dating methods relies on understanding whether the samples are organic or inorganic, as this determines whether Carbon-14 dating or U-235 dating would be appropriate. In this scenario, samples that were once part of living organisms, such as wood pieces and Egyptian mummies, can be dated using Carbon-14 because they contain organic material. In contrast, inorganic samples like Granite, Sandstone, and Gneisses do not contain organic carbon and are therefore candidates to be dated using radioactive elements like Uranium-235.

Carbon-14 dating:

Wood piece

Egyptian mummies

U-235 dating:

• Granite
• Sand stone
• Gneisses