Modeling Exponential Decay: Finding the Age of Objects

The video tutorial explains the difference between archaeology and paleontology, focusing on how to determine the age of objects using exponential decay. It reviews exponential growth and decay, emphasizing the role of fractions and decimals in these processes. The tutorial introduces carbon-14 dating, explaining its half-life and how it can be used to date objects like a wooden arrow or a saber tooth cat's fang. The lesson concludes with practical applications of exponential decay in determining the age of ancient artifacts.

What is the primary focus of a paleontologist?

• Studying modern cultures

• Studying fossils

• Studying ancient civilizations

• Studying celestial bodies

In exponential decay, what happens when you multiply by a fraction between 0 and 1?

• The product remains the same

• The product becomes larger

• The product becomes negative

• The product becomes smaller

Why can't a negative base be used in exponential decay for all real exponents?

• It results in complex numbers

• It results in zero

• It results in undefined values

• It results in positive numbers

What is a horizontal asymptote in the context of exponential decay?

• A line that the graph stays above

• A line that the graph stays below

• A line that the graph never reaches but gets infinitely close to

• A line that the graph crosses

What is the half-life of carbon-14?

• 1,000 years

• 2,500 years

• 10,000 years

• 5,730 years

How much carbon-14 remains in a Mayan mummy that is 2,000 years old?

• 25%

• 78%

• 50%

• 10%

If 10% of the carbon-14 remains in a saber tooth cat's fang, how old is it approximately?

• 25,000 years

• 19,000 years

• 10,000 years

• 5,000 years