Question

The half-life of Carbon-14 is 5730 years. Suppose a fossil is found with 50% of Carbon-14 as compared to a living sample. How old is the fossil?
a) 572 years
b) 57 years
c) 5730 years
d) 5728 years

Answer 1

The answer is C. Because it takes 5730 years for half of a sample of carbon-14 atoms to decay. It says that 50% of the carbon atoms have decayed so that means that 5730 years have elapsed for that fossil.

I hope that helps.