Atoms, Nuclei and Radiation
 

Atoms, Nuclei and Radiation problem 24


Archaeologists excavate the bone of an animal in which they detect radioactive carbon . This radioactive isotope of carbon is naturally present in the atmosphere and decays with a half-life of 5700 years. When the bones are found, they had 3.3 decays per second. The bones of living animals, on the other hand, have 30.8 decays per second. Estimate the age of the excavated bone.


 

material editor: Gabriel Amakhabi