Question

A geologist in South America discovers a

bird skeleton that contains 57% of its
original amount of C-14.
N = Noekt
No = inital amount of C-14 (at time
t = 0)
N = amount of C-14 at time t
k = 0.0001
t = time, in years
Find the age of the bird skeleton to the nearest year

Answer 1

Answer: 10217 is the correct answer.

Explanation:

Answer 2

This is a radioactive decay / half-life problem.

Initial amount of C 14 = 100% Present Amount = 57%

k = .0001 (that value should be negative)

Nt = No * e^ (k*t)

You need to solve that equation for "time" (equation attached)

time = natural log (Ending amount / Starting Amount) / k

time = natural log (57% / 100%) / -.0001

time = ln (.57) / -.0001

time = -.56211891815 / -.0001

time = 5,621.2 years (age of the bird skeleton)

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Explanation: