Final answer:
Radiocarbon dating, also known as carbon-14 dating, is a method used to determine the age of organic materials based on the decay of the carbon isotope carbon-14.
Step-by-step explanation:
Radiocarbon dating, also known as carbon-14 dating, is a method used to determine the age of organic materials based on the decay of the carbon isotope carbon-14.
This method relies on the fact that carbon-14 is continuously formed in the atmosphere and is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis.
When an organism dies, the carbon-14 begins to decay, and by measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in the sample, scientists can estimate its age.
Here's how it works:
- Organisms absorb carbon-14 from the atmosphere while they are alive.
- After death, the carbon-14 in the organism begins to decay at a known rate. The half-life of carbon-14 is approximately 5,730 years.
- By measuring the ratio of carbon-14 to stable carbon isotopes, scientists can calculate how long it has been since the organism died.
Radiocarbon dating is useful for dating organic materials up to about 50,000 years old. It is commonly used in archaeology and anthropology to determine the age of artifacts and human remains.
Complete Question:
What is meant by Argon-Argon Radiocarbon Dating (Absolute Dating)?