Calculate % of Carbon Decay in Ancient Organic Material | Physics Problem 18"

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In summary, investigators found a sample of organic material with 19 g of carbon and estimate it to be 22922 years old. To determine the percentage of carbon-14 that has decayed, one must first find the half-life of carbon-14, which can be found in a textbook. Then, by dividing the half-life into 22922, we can find how many times it has decayed. Finally, by subtracting the result from 1, we can determine that 93.8% of the carbon-14 in the material has decayed.
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mustang
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Problem 18. A sample of organic material is found to contain 19 g of carbon. Based on samples of pottery found at the site, investigators believe the material is about 22922 years old.
Estimate what percentage of the material's carbon-14 has decayed. Answer in units of %.
Note; How do you do this problem?
 
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  • #2
The first thing you do is look up the "half-life" of carbon-14. It's probably in your textbook, I'll call it "H" here. If T= H, then 1/2 or 50% of the carbon-14 has decayed. If T= 2H, then (1/2)2= 1/4 is left so 3/4 has decayed. If T= 3H, then (1/2)3 has decayed. How many times does the half-life of carbon 14 divide into 22922? (include decimal places). What is 1/2 to that power? That's how much is left. Once you know that, subtract from 1 to find what part has decayed.
 
  • #3
I figured it out.

Thanks! I did what you said and got 93.8
degrees.
 
  • #4
I do hope you meant "percent" rather than "degrees"!
 

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