Carbon dating

How is an isotope different from the standard form of a chemical element?

• It has a different number of positrons.

• It has a different number of electrons

• It has a different number of neutrons

• It has a different number of protons.

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Compared to the amount of carbon atoms on Earth, the amount of radioactive carbon atoms is infinitesimal. In this sentence, what is the best synonym for "infinitesimal?"

• Tiny

• Dangerous

• Equal

• Large

Which of the following best describes the nucleus of an atom of carbon-14?

• Eight protons, six neutrons

• Six protons, eight neutrons

• 10 protons, four neutrons

• Four protons, 10 neutrons

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is radioactive decay?

• The ability of radioactive elements to decay into different elements over time.

• The effect of exposing radioactive material to the human body.

• The ability of radioactive atoms to destroy other atoms

• The physical wear and tear that ancient artifacts exhibit over long periods of time.

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is the relationship between carbon-14 and nitrogen?

• Nitrogen and carbon-14 react to form radioactive elements

• Over time, nitrogen becomes carbon-14.

• Over time, carbon-14 becomes nitrogen

• Carbon-14 can be used to date ancient nitrogen.

Let's say you have a sample of 10 milligrams of carbon-14. How many milligrams will you have in 5,700 years?

• 0 mg

• 5 mg

• 10 mg

• 20 mg

What can you learn about an organism from the amount of carbon-14 in its remains?

• How long ago it died.

• What its diet consisted of.

• Which biological kingdom it belonged to

• Which living animals it's most closely related to.

When an unstable radioactive atom decays, it usually turns into:

• a more stable atom
• a less stable atom
• the exact same atom but with less pure energy
• empty space

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Radiometric dating is possible because the rates of decay of radioactive isotopes _____.

• change over time
• change from place to place
• are constant
• vary widely

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

The time it takes for 50% of the nuclei in a radioactive sample to decay to its stable isotope is called _____.

• the daughter product
• geologic time
• the half-life
• the half-time

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8