Carbon dating activity

Radiocarbon Dating

UC Berkeley. Geologists use radiometric dating to estimate how long ago rocks formed, and to infer the ages of fossils contained within those rocks. The universe is full of naturally occurring radioactive elements. When molten rock cools, forming what are called igneous rocks, radioactive atoms are trapped inside. Afterwards, they decay at a predictable rate. By measuring the quantity of unstable atoms left in a rock and comparing it to the quantity of stable daughter atoms in the rock, scientists can estimate the amount of time that has passed since that rock formed.

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Unstable nuclei decay. However, some nuclides decay faster than others. For example, radium and polonium, discovered by the Curies, decay faster than uranium. This means they have shorter lifetimes, producing a greater rate of decay. In this section we explore half-life and activity, the quantitative terms for lifetime and rate of decay.

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Radiometric dating

The neutron is produced when cosmic rays strike other atoms in the upper atmosphere. The present concentration of 14 C in systems interacting with the atmosphere is 1 14 C atom in 7. Once the living object stops interacting, living, the amount of 14 C present begins to decrease. The amount of 14C cannot be directly measured because is is present in such a small amount, but the radiation emitted from the 14 C nuclei can be measured.

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