What Is the Benefit of Using Carbon in Radioisotope Dating,versus

question 19

Multiple Choice

What is the benefit of using carbon in radioisotope dating,versus using other elements?

• A)The relatively longer half-life of carbon allows more accurate dating when samples are within the last ~55,000 years.
• B)The longer half-life of carbon compared with other elements allows more precision in dating,especially for contaminated samples.
• C)Carbon is relatively rare on Earth,so the presence of carbon can lead researchers to surprising findings compared with other elements.
• D)Carbon is central to nearly all molecules in living organisms,and its ubiquitous presence in the atmosphere,plus shorter half-life,provides accurate dating of especially recent samples.

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Definitions:

Statistical Measure

A statistical measure is a quantitative value that describes a characteristic of a sample or population, such as mean, median, or standard deviation.

Variables

Elements or factors that can change and affect the outcome of a study or experiment.

Representative Sample

A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population from which it is drawn, ensuring research findings are generalizable.

Random Sample

A sample drawn in such a way that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected, leading to a representative subset.