Final answer:
The age of an ancient artifact can be estimated by determining the amount of carbon-14 present in the artifact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The age of an ancient artifact can be estimated by determining the amount of carbon-14 present in the artifact, as carbon-14 is used in radiocarbon dating. Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon that decays over time. By measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in the artifact and comparing it to the known amount of carbon-14 in a living organism, scientists can estimate the age of the artifact.
The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years, meaning that after 5,730 years, half of the carbon-14 in an organism or artifact will have decayed. In this case, the artifact contains 20 particles of carbon-12. Carbon-12 is a stable isotope of carbon and does not undergo radioactive decay. Therefore, it is not used to determine the age of the artifact. Only carbon-14, which is a radioactive isotope, can be used for radiocarbon dating.