Final answer:
Carbon-14 dating is useful for objects up to about 50,000 years old but is most accurate for materials less than 30,000 years old. It measures the radioactive decay of carbon-14 in organic remains to determine their age.
Step-by-step explanation:
The useful range of the carbon-14 dating method extends to include objects that are up to about 30,000 to 50,000 years old. However, it can provide reasonably accurate dates up to a maximum of about 50,000 to 60,000 years old. Carbon-14 dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a method for dating carbon-containing substances that were part of a living organism. The accuracy diminishes for older samples because the amount of carbon-14 decreases to a level that is too low to detect over time.
Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5730 years and gains entry into the biosphere through atmospheric interactions, becoming incorporated into all living things. After an organism dies, the carbon-14 within it decays and is not replaced. By measuring the remaining carbon-14 in a sample and comparing it to the known original amount, researchers can determine the time since death of the organism.