The half life of Carbon 14 is 5500 years. How many years will pass for a 30 gram sample to reach 3.75 grams

Half life is the time taken by a radioactive isotope to decay by half of its original mass. In this case the half life of carbon-14 is 5500 years.

The original mass is 30 g and the new mass is 3.75 g.

New mass = Original mass * (1/2) ^n, where n is the number of half lives;

3.75 = 30 * (1/2) ^n

1/8 = (1/2) ^n

n = 3

Thus, the time taken will be; 3 * 5500 = 16500 years.