The cloth shroud from around a mummy is found to have a ^{14}C activity of

Chris Cruz

Chris Cruz

Answered question

2022-01-02

The cloth shroud from around a mummy is found to have a {14}C activity of 9.7 disintegrations per minute per gram of carbon as compared with living organisms that undergo 16.3 disintegrations per minute per gram of carbon. From the half-life for {14}C decay, 5715 yr, calculate the age of the shroud.

Answer & Explanation

veiga34

veiga34

Beginner2022-01-03Added 32 answers

The half life of  {14}C is 5715 years.
The connection between the half life and the decay constant is shown by the equation:k=0.693t12
k=0.6935715yr
k=1.21×104yr1
The information provided lets us know that N0=16.3 and Nt=9.7
Use the equation lnNtNo=kt
Rearrange to determine the shroud's age:
t=1klnNtNo
k=t=11.21×104yr1ln9.716.3
t4.28×103yr

Paul Mitchell

Paul Mitchell

Beginner2022-01-04Added 40 answers

The half life for  {40}K decay to  {40}Ar is t12=1.27109yrK
The mass ratio of the rock is  {40}Arto  {40}K=421
Hence, No=4.2+1=5.2
And, Nt=1
Let us calculate the age of the rock.
Let's first determine the decay constant.
k=0.6931.27109yr
=5.461010yr{1}
We can now determine the rock's age.
ln(NtNo)=kt
ln(152)=5.461010yr1t1.649=5.461010yr1
t=1.6495.461010yr1
=3.02109yr

Vasquez

Vasquez

Expert2022-01-07Added 669 answers

We know:
The half time for decay, t12=5715yr
The disintegration per minute per gram of carbon, N=9.7
The disintegration per minute per gram, No=16.3
The rate constant's expression,
k=0.693t12
=0.693(5715yr(365days1yr)(24hr1day)(60min1hr))
=2.31×1010min1
the expression "radioactive decay,"
lnNNo=kt
ln9.717.3=(2.31×1010)t
t=2.5×109min
Result: The age of the shroud is 2.5×109min

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