Conceptual Physical Science, Books a la Carte Edition; Modified Mastering Physics with Pearson eText -- ValuePack Access Card -- for Conceptual Physical Science (6th Edition)
6th Edition
ISBN: 9780134466927
Author: Paul G. Hewitt, Leslie A. Hewitt
Publisher: PEARSON
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Videos
Textbook Question
Chapter 23, Problem 55E
If we divide a number by 2, and then divide the result by 2, and so on indefinitely, the answer will never be zero. Why, then, is carbon dating useful only for materials that are no older than about 50,000 years? (Hint: What is the half-life of carbon-14?)
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solution
Students have asked these similar questions
The faster a molecule is moving in the upper atmosphere, the more likely it is to escape Earth's gravity.
Given this fact, and your knowledge of rms speed, which of the following molecules can escape most easily from Earth's atmosphere if they are all at the same temperature?
The temperature in one part of a flame is 2,100 K. What is the rms velocity of the carbon dioxide molecules at this temperature? Give your answer as the number of meters per second.
mass of 1 mole of CO2 = 44.0 grams
1 mole contains 6.02 x 1023 molecules
the Boltzmann constant k = 1.38 x 10-23 J/K
The specific heat of a certain substance is 375 J/(kg°C). How much heat energy would you have to add to increase the temperature of 22 kg of this substance from 33°C up to 44°C in a number of Joules?
Chapter 23 Solutions
Conceptual Physical Science, Books a la Carte Edition; Modified Mastering Physics with Pearson eText -- ValuePack Access Card -- for Conceptual Physical Science (6th Edition)
Ch. 23 - Prob. 1RCQCh. 23 - What six principles are used in relative dating?...Ch. 23 - A granitic dike is found across a sandstone layer....Ch. 23 - Why dont all rock formations show a continuous...Ch. 23 - How are fossils used in determining geologic time?Ch. 23 - In a sequence of sedimentary rock layers, the...Ch. 23 - Prob. 7RCQCh. 23 - What is radioactive half-life?Ch. 23 - What are the half-lives of uranium-238,...Ch. 23 - Prob. 10RCQ
Ch. 23 - Prob. 11RCQCh. 23 - Which of the geologic time units spans the...Ch. 23 - Prob. 13RCQCh. 23 - What key developments in life occurred during...Ch. 23 - What evidence do we have of Precambrian life?Ch. 23 - The Paleozoic era experienced several fluctuations...Ch. 23 - Prob. 17RCQCh. 23 - Prob. 18RCQCh. 23 - What life forms are associated with the Devonian...Ch. 23 - Why are internal nostrils in the lobe-finned...Ch. 23 - Why do many geologists consider the lobe-finned...Ch. 23 - During what time period were most coal deposits...Ch. 23 - In what area of the United States do we find rich...Ch. 23 - What group evolved from the amphibians with the...Ch. 23 - Prob. 25RCQCh. 23 - What is the most likely cause of the Cretaceous...Ch. 23 - What effect did the breakup of Pangaea have on sea...Ch. 23 - How is the element iridium related to the time of...Ch. 23 - Which epochs make up the Tertiary period? The...Ch. 23 - What important life forms evolved during the...Ch. 23 - Refer to the accompanying figure. Using the...Ch. 23 - On a cross section, a dark wavy line is used to...Ch. 23 - If fine muds were laid down at a rate of 1 cm/1000...Ch. 23 - With the formation of Pangaea, disconnected...Ch. 23 - The decay of radioactive elements to stable...Ch. 23 - Going from oldest to youngest, rank these life...Ch. 23 - The geologic time scale is subdivided into eons,...Ch. 23 - Prob. 38TARCh. 23 - Throughout geologic time there have been several...Ch. 23 - Throughout geologic time there have been many...Ch. 23 - The Cenozoic is known for many tectonic events. In...Ch. 23 - Each period of the Paleozoic saw marked changes in...Ch. 23 - Prob. 43TARCh. 23 - If a sedimentary rock contains inclusions of...Ch. 23 - Granitic pebbles within a sedimentary rock have a...Ch. 23 - Two isolated rock outcrops share a few similar...Ch. 23 - Suppose that in an undeformed sequence of rocks,...Ch. 23 - In a sequence of sedimentary rock layers, the...Ch. 23 - What is the difference between a nonconformity and...Ch. 23 - Prob. 50ECh. 23 - What general assumption must be made to understand...Ch. 23 - Suppose you see a sequence of sedimentary rock...Ch. 23 - In dating a mineral, what is meant by resetting...Ch. 23 - A radiometric date is determined from mica that...Ch. 23 - If we divide a number by 2, and then divide the...Ch. 23 - Which isotopes are most appropriate for dating...Ch. 23 - Has the amount of uranium in Earth increased over...Ch. 23 - Before the discovery of radioactivity, how did...Ch. 23 - In the geologic time scale, which time division...Ch. 23 - What is the basis for the division of the geologic...Ch. 23 - What factors are believed to have contributed to...Ch. 23 - Prob. 62ECh. 23 - Prob. 63ECh. 23 - How did the Precambrian atmosphere become...Ch. 23 - Why is it difficult to find fossils in Precambrian...Ch. 23 - What are strematolites, and what is their...Ch. 23 - Prob. 67ECh. 23 - Prob. 68ECh. 23 - Prob. 69ECh. 23 - Prob. 70ECh. 23 - Prob. 71ECh. 23 - Coal beds form from the accumulation of plant...Ch. 23 - Prob. 73ECh. 23 - What can cause a rise in sea level? Is this likely...Ch. 23 - What are some potential worldwide consequences...Ch. 23 - What is the significance of an amniote egg?Ch. 23 - Prob. 77ECh. 23 - What effect did the breakup of Pangaea have on...Ch. 23 - Was there a time when dinosaurs and humans...Ch. 23 - Prob. 80ECh. 23 - Prob. 81ECh. 23 - How does basaltic lava in a rift zone separate two...Ch. 23 - Prob. 83ECh. 23 - What is the Anthropocene epoch?Ch. 23 - Prob. 85ECh. 23 - Prob. 86ECh. 23 - What event allowed the evolution of many mammals...Ch. 23 - Prob. 88ECh. 23 - Prob. 89ECh. 23 - Prob. 90ECh. 23 - Prob. 91ECh. 23 - Prob. 92ECh. 23 - How old are the oldest rocks on Earth? About how...Ch. 23 - During Earth's long history, life has emerged and...Ch. 23 - Prob. 95ECh. 23 - Prob. 96ECh. 23 - Prob. 97DQCh. 23 - How have modern humans affected geologic...Ch. 23 - Prob. 99DQCh. 23 - Prob. 100DQCh. 23 - The principle of superposition is that each new...Ch. 23 - Life forms throughout Earths past have emerged in...Ch. 23 - The time it takes for 50% of a radioactive...Ch. 23 - Development of Earths oceans was probably due to...Ch. 23 - Prob. 5RATCh. 23 - The Paleozoic experienced several fluctuations in...Ch. 23 - The most important event during the Cambrian...Ch. 23 - The formation of the supercontinent of Pangaea (a)...Ch. 23 - Prob. 9RATCh. 23 - The creation of the San Andreas Fault corresponded...
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Find more solutions based on key concepts
The light reactions of photosynthesis supply the Calvin cycle with A. light energy. B. CO2 and ATP. C. O2 and N...
Campbell Biology in Focus (2nd Edition)
Complete and balance each acid-base reaction. a. HC2H3O2(aq)+Ca(OH)2(aq) b. HBr(aq)+LiOH(aq) c. H2SO4(aq)+Ba(OH...
Introductory Chemistry (6th Edition)
Which one of the following is not a fuel produced by microorganisms? a. algal oil b. ethanol c. hydrogen d. met...
Microbiology: An Introduction
Modified True/False 9. A giant bacterium that is large enough to be seen without a microscope is Selenomonas.
Microbiology with Diseases by Body System (5th Edition)
Explain all answers clearly, with complete sentences and proper essay structure if needed. An asterisk (*) desi...
Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals
The bioremediation process shown in the photograph is used to remove benzene and other hydrocarbons from soil c...
Microbiology: An Introduction
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- 3.9 moles of an ideal gas are sealed in a container with volume 0.22 m3, at a pressure of 146,000 N/m2. What is the temperature of the gas in degrees Celsius?arrow_forwardwhen a cannon is launched at a 65 degree angle, will it have the same horizontal velocity as when it is launched from a 25 degree angle as long as the initial speed is the same?arrow_forwardPlease solve the problem step by step and provide explanations along each step stating what's being done. Thank you!!arrow_forward
- Figure 8.14 shows a cube at rest and a small object heading toward it. (a) Describe the directions (angle 1) at which the small object can emerge after colliding elastically with the cube. How does 1 depend on b, the so-called impact parameter? Ignore any effects that might be due to rotation after the collision, and assume that the cube is much more massive than the small object. (b) Answer the same questions if the small object instead collides with a massive sphere.arrow_forward2. A projectile is shot from a launcher at an angle 0,, with an initial velocity magnitude vo, from a point even with a tabletop. The projectile hits an apple atop a child's noggin (see Figure 1). The apple is a height y above the tabletop, and a horizontal distance x from the launcher. Set this up as a formal problem, and solve for x. That is, determine an expression for x in terms of only v₁, 0, y and g. Actually, this is quite a long expression. So, if you want, you can determine an expression for x in terms of v., 0., and time t, and determine another expression for timet (in terms of v., 0.,y and g) that you will solve and then substitute the value of t into the expression for x. Your final equation(s) will be called Equation 3 (and Equation 4).arrow_forwardDraw a phase portrait for an oscillating, damped spring.arrow_forward
- A person is running a temperature of 41.0°C. What is the equivalent temperature on the Fahrenheit scale? (Enter your answer to at least three significant figures.) °Farrow_forwardWhat is the period of a rock of mass 2.0kg tied to the end of a spring 0.625m long string that hangs in a doorway and has an elastic constant of 40N/m?arrow_forwardGive an example of friction speeding up an object.arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
An Introduction to Physical SciencePhysicsISBN:9781305079137Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar TorresPublisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399944Author:Michael A. SeedsPublisher:Cengage Learning
Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course ...PhysicsISBN:9781305960961Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
An Introduction to Physical Science
Physics
ISBN:9781305079137
Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399920
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399944
Author:Michael A. Seeds
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course ...
Physics
ISBN:9781305960961
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Half life | Radioactivity | Physics | FuseSchool; Author: FuseSchool - Global Education;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDkNlU7zKYU;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY