A sample of wood is found to contain 1/8 as much C-14 as is present in the wood of a living tree. What is the approximate age, in years, of this sample of wood?

1 Answer
David Drayer
Mar 9, 2017

Approximately 17,100 years or three half lives.

Explanation:

# 1/8 = 1/2 xx 1/2 xx 1/2#

A sample of wood with one eight of the C 14 of the present wood has experienced three half lives.

One half life of C 14 has an approximate value of 5,700 years.

To find the approximate age multiple the half life by the number of half lives.

# 5,700 xx 3 = 17,100#

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