When any radioactive dating method is used, experimental error in the measurement of the sample's activity leads to error in the estimated age. In an application of the radiocarbon dating technique to certain fossils, an activity of 0.110 Bq per gram of carbon is measured to within an accuracy of 11.0 percent. Find (a) the age of the fossils and (b) the maximum error (both in years) in the value obtained. Assume that there is no error in the 5730-year half- life of 6C¹4 nor in the value of 0.23 Bq per gram of carbon in a living organism. (a) Number (b) Number i Units Units

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When any radioactive dating method is used, experimental error in the measurement of the sample's activity leads
to error in the estimated age. In an application of the radiocarbon dating technique to certain fossils, an activity of
0.110 Bq per gram of carbon is measured to within an accuracy of 11.0 percent. Find (a) the age of the fossils and
(b) the maximum error (both in years) in the value obtained. Assume that there is no error in the 5730-year half-
life of 6C¹4 nor in the value of 0.23 Bq per gram of carbon in a living organism.
(a) Number
(b) Number
Units
Units
Transcribed Image Text:When any radioactive dating method is used, experimental error in the measurement of the sample's activity leads to error in the estimated age. In an application of the radiocarbon dating technique to certain fossils, an activity of 0.110 Bq per gram of carbon is measured to within an accuracy of 11.0 percent. Find (a) the age of the fossils and (b) the maximum error (both in years) in the value obtained. Assume that there is no error in the 5730-year half- life of 6C¹4 nor in the value of 0.23 Bq per gram of carbon in a living organism. (a) Number (b) Number Units Units
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