The amount C in grams of carbon-14 present in a certain substance after t years is given by
C = 20e^-0.0001216t
estimate the half-life of carbon-14

Respuesta :

Answer:

5700 years

Step-by-step explanation:

At time t=0, the amount of carbon present is:

C = 20e^0

C = 20

After one half-life, there will be half as much carbon, or 10 grams.

10 = 20e^(-0.0001216t)

0.5 = e^(-0.0001216t)

ln 0.5 = -0.0001216t

t = -(ln 0.5) / 0.0001216

t ≈ 5700

The half-life of carbon-14 is about 5700 years.