Question

carbon-14 has a half-life of 5730 years. a fossil is 30,642 years old. what percent of the fossil's original carbon-14 content remains?

Answer 1

Original carbon-14 content remaining in the fossil after 30642 years would be approximately 3.1% .

After 1 half life the amount of carbon remaining : 1 / 2

After 2 half-lives the amount of carbon remaining : 1 / 4

After 3 half-lives the amount of carbon remaining : 1 / 8

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Similarly After n half-lives the amount of carbon remaining : $(\frac{1}{2} )^{n}$

so here the number of half-lives :

30642 / 5730 ≈ 5

So approximately 5 half-lives have been utilized which means amount of carbon remaining :

1 / 2^5   =    1 / 32   =  0.031    ≈   3.1 %

To know more about the half life of carbon :

brainly.com/question/29794972

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