Answer: When it comes to representing the radioactive decay of carbon-14, the most appropriate graph to use is an exponential decay graph.
Explanation: An exponential decay graph displays the decrease in the quantity of carbon-14 over time as it undergoes radioactive decay. The x-axis represents time, typically measured in years, while the y-axis represents the remaining amount of carbon-14, usually measured in terms of the percentage of the initial quantity or the number of carbon-14 atoms.
Initially, the graph starts with the maximum amount of carbon-14 at time zero, which is represented by 100% or the total number of carbon-14 atoms. As time progresses, the quantity of carbon-14 decreases in a predictable pattern.
In an exponential decay graph, the curve depicting the decay of carbon-14 starts steeply, indicating a rapid decrease in the beginning. As time goes on, the curve gradually becomes less steep, representing a slower rate of decay. This shape reflects the fact that carbon-14 has a half-life of approximately 5,730 years, meaning that it takes 5,730 years for half of the initial amount to decay.