Assignment Task:
Assume that the rate of decay of a radioactive substance is proportional to the amount of the substance present. The? half-life of a radioactive substance is the time it takes for? one-half of the substance to disintegrate. Carbon dating is often used to determine the age of a fossil. For? example, a humanoid skull was found in a cave in South Africa along with the remains of a campfire. Archaeologists believe the age of the skull to be the same age as the campfire. It is determined that only 2?% of the original amount of? carbon-14 remains in the burnt wood of the campfire. Complete parts? (a) through? (e) below.
(a) Estimate the age of the skull if the? half-life of? carbon-14 is about 5710 years. Need Assignment Help?
(b) Estimate the age of the skull if the? half-life of? carbon-14 is about 5710 years and 3?% of the original amount of? carbon-14 remains in the burnt wood of the campfire.