Carbon-14 Decay and Dating Concepts

The video explains the decay of radioactive isotopes and how this process is used to estimate the age of materials. It covers the concept of half-life, focusing on Carbon 14 dating, which is used to date organic materials up to 50,000 years old. The video also discusses the ratio of Carbon 14 to Carbon 12 in living organisms and how it changes after death. A graphical analysis of Carbon 14 decay is presented, along with an example of determining the age of a bone using this method.

What happens to the amount of parent isotope as it decays into a daughter isotope?

• It fluctuates randomly.

• It remains constant.

• It decreases.

• It increases.

Which isotope is used to date organic objects up to about 50,000 years old?

• Rubidium-87

• Carbon-14

• Potassium-40

• Strontium-87

What is the half-life of Carbon-14?

• 5,730 years

• 47 billion years

• 50,000 years

• 4.5 billion years

How do living organisms maintain the ratio of Carbon-14 to Carbon-12?

• By absorbing carbon from the environment

• By losing carbon to the environment

• By producing carbon internally

• By converting nitrogen to carbon

What happens to Carbon-14 in a dead organism over time?

• It remains constant.

• It increases.

• It decreases.

• It converts to Carbon-12.

What does Carbon-14 decay into?

• Oxygen-16

• Hydrogen-2

• Nitrogen-14

• Carbon-12

After two half-lives, what percentage of the original Carbon-14 remains?

• 6.25%

• 12.5%

• 25%

• 50%

How can the age of an object be determined using a graph of Carbon-14 decay?

• By counting the number of isotopes

• By measuring the object's weight

• By comparing the object's color

• By plotting the remaining Carbon-14 percentage against time

In the example of the rib bone, what percentage of the original Carbon-14 remained?

• 12%

• 6%

• 25%

• 50%

What is the estimated age of the rib bone with 12% of its original Carbon-14 remaining?

• 23,000 years

• 17,500 years

• 11,460 years

• 5,730 years