MCAT Question of the Day


  • Q:

    Suppose the half-life of 14C (currently 5730 years) has doubled in the last 50,000 years. When calculating the age of a specimen, if the changing rate is not taken into account when using 5730 as the half-life, how will the calculated age compare to the actual age? Note that the age is calculated after first determining the number of half-lives.

     

    A

    The calculated age will be greater than the actual age because less 14C is present than there would be if the half-life had not changed

    B

    The calculated age will be greater than the actual age because more 14C is present than there would be if the half-life had not changed

    C

    The calculated age will be less than the actual age because less 14C is present than there would be if the half-life had not changed

    D

    The calculated age will be less than the actual age because more 14C is present than there would be if the half-life had not changed



    Nuclear Chemistry |
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