Question

What is the carbon-14 dating equation?

Answer 1

`(5730/-0.693)ln(N_t/N_0)`

Explanation:

General formula for time `t` used in Carbon-14 dating is `(5730/-0.693)ln(N_t/N_0)`.

If a fossil has say 25% of carbon-14 as compared to living sample than it is 11460 years old (as it has one-fourth carbon it is 5730*2=11460 years old).

As in the above example `(N_t/N_0=0.25)` and `ln0.25=-1.386`

`t=(5730/-0.693)*(-1.386)=5730*2=11460` years.