Radiocarbon dating is limited to the remains of plants and animals that died no longer ago than about how long

Question

A. 5700 years
B. 1,000,000 years
C. 100 years
D. 40,000 years

Answer 1

D

A is Carbon's half life, B is too long and C is very short if it's half life is 5700 years.

Answer 2

None of these answers is right.

The half-life of 14C is about 5700 years. So it is quite easy to use 14C to measure the age of suitable materials that are up to about 50,000 years old. However, newer techniques for calculating the small amounts of remaining 14C are now accurate back well beyond 50,000 years if the samples are good. There is a concerted effort going on to improve this technology for sample as much as 150,000 years old.

But, if you have to pick one of these answers, I guess you are safest with "D"

Answer 3

Depending on the sensitivity of the equipment, radiocarbon dating can now be used to date organic material up to 50,000 or even 100,000 years old (if the sample is good enough).

So the best answer is D.

Answer 4

It's a take-home test. Look it up in your school book....