A piece of charcoal used for cooking is found at the remains of an ancient campsite. a 0.94 kg sample of carbon from the wood has an activity of 1580 decays per minute. find the age of the charcoal. living material has an activity of 15 decays/minute per gram of carbon present and the half-life of 14c is 5730 y. answer

Mass of sample of charcoal = 0.94 kg = 0.00094

∴, activity = decay rate / mass = 1580/0.00094

= 1.681 X 10^6 decays per min per gram

Using the half-life formula, we have:

activity of sample / activity of modern carbon = (1/2) ^ (age / half-life)

∴, Age = half-life x log (base 2) (modern activity / coal activity)

= 5730 x log (base 2) (1.681X10^6 / 15)

= 96115 years.

Answer: Age of the charcoal = 96115 years