Chapter 18, Problem 21E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The estimated age of the fossil, when the carbon $\text{-14}$ reading of a fossil bone is $\text{60}\text{dpm}$, and a recent bone is $\text{240}\text{dpm}$ is to be calculated.

Concept introduction:

For all the radioactive samples, the level of radioactivity decreases with time. For the activity of the sample, the amount of time that is required to reduce it by half is known as the half-life. The half-life is represented by the symbol $t_{1/2}$.