A rear molar from a mammoth skeleton is dated using a measurement of its 14C content. Carbon from the tooth is chemically extracted and formed into benzene. The benzene sample is placed in a shielded chamber. Decays from the sample come at an average rate of 11.5 counts per minute. A modern benzene sample of the exact same size gives 54.9 counts per minute. What is the age of the skeleton?

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Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
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Chapter29: Nuclear Physics
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A rear molar from a mammoth skeleton is dated using a measurement of its 14C content. Carbon from the tooth is chemically extracted and formed into benzene. The benzene sample is placed in a shielded chamber. Decays from the sample come at an average rate of 11.5 counts per minute. A modern benzene sample of the exact same size gives 54.9 counts per minute. What is the age of the skeleton?

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