Chapter 20, Problem 102RQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The ${\text{C}}^{\text{14}}{\text{/C}}^{12}$ ratio for the wooden door lintel is to be determined.

Concept Introduction:

For calculating the age of a rock sample, radiological dating is taken into consideration, which is based on the half-lives of radio nuclides. It uses radiological dating pair of isotopes that undergo ‘parent’ to ‘daughter’ radioactive disintegrations. Carbon dating is one such method for finding the age of an organic sample.

The carbon dating method involves comparative measurements of the ratio of ${\text{C}}^{\text{14}}{\text{ to C}}^{12}$ in any ancient organic sample, such as wood or bone. During the living age, the ratio of ${\text{C}}^{\text{14}}{\text{ to C}}^{12}$ in a plant or an animal is constant. This ratio can, therefore, relate to the years that have elapsed between the time of measurement and the time of death. For modern calculations, the value of this ratio is taken as $\text{1}\text{.2}\times {\text{10}}^{-12}$.