Question

A woolly rhinocerous skeleton (Coelodonta antiquitatis) found in Poland contains 1.30% of the C-14 found in living animals. How long ago did the organism die?

Answer 1

Answer:

The organism died 35900 years ago

Explanation:

• Half life C-14 is 5730 years.
• For decay of radioactive nuclides: $\frac{N}{N_{0}}=(\frac{1}{2})^{\frac{t}{t_{\frac{1}{2}}}}$
• $\frac{N}{N_{0}}$ is the fraction of radioactive nuclide remain present after t time and $t_{\frac{1}{2}}$ is the half-life of radioactive nuclide
• Here $\frac{N}{N_{0}}$ is 0.013 and $t_{\frac{1}{2}}$ is 5730 yeras

Plug-in all the values in the above equation:

$0.013=(\frac{1}{2})^{\frac{t}{5730years}}$

So, t = 35900 years

Hence the organism died 35900 years ago