Chapter 21, Problem 21.100AP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The year of performing carbon dating is given. The ratio ${}^{14}\text{C}$ of the object made in the two given years from the same kind of wood is to be calculated.

Concept introduction: The ratio of ${}^{14}\text{C}$ at two different years is calculated by the formula,

$\frac{{}^{\text{14}}\text{C}\text{at}{\text{year}}_{\text{1}}}{{}^{\text{14}}\text{C}\text{at}{\text{year}}_2}=0.5\left(\frac{{\text{year}}_{\text{1}}-{\text{year}}_{\text{2}}}{5730}\right)$

To determine: The ratio ${}^{14}\text{C}$ of the object made in the years $100\text{BCE}$ and $700\text{BCE}$ from the same kind of wood.