2007-12-11 15:47:19 · 7 answers · asked by SUMMER 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
carbon dating
2007-12-11 15:49:53 · answer #1 · answered by shayne_civic 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Carbon Dating:
Most carbon atoms have 6 protons and 6 neutrons, but some have 8 neutrons. The extra neutrons give these atoms an atomic mass of 14, which is where the name carbon-14 comes from. All living things have regular carbon atoms and a small percent of carbon-14 atoms. The carbon-14 atoms decay and are replaced continually. When a plant or animal dies, the carbon-14 atoms continue to decay, but they are not replaced. As a result, the ratio of regular carbon atoms to carbon-14 atoms increases. By examining a fossil and calculating the ratio of regular carbon atoms to carbon-14 atoms and comparing it to the ratio in living things, Scientists can figure out how long ago the animal or plant died and, therefore, how old the fossil is.
Best Regards.
2007-12-12 00:09:39 · answer #2 · answered by iceman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Carbon dating of Carbon 14 in an object.
2007-12-12 00:34:28 · answer #3 · answered by Norrie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The most general answer to this question may be "exponential decay."
Radioactive decay is a specific example of exponential decay.
2007-12-11 23:53:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
radioactive dating
2007-12-11 23:51:27 · answer #5 · answered by nickylean 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
radioactive decay.
2007-12-11 23:50:20 · answer #6 · answered by rkeech 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
most common is radioactivity
2007-12-11 23:49:55 · answer #7 · answered by gureet2001 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋