Carbon Dating QuarkNet, a Project Funded by the National Science

question 37

Essay

Carbon dating QuarkNet, a project funded by the National Science Foundation and the
U.S. Department of Energy, poses the following problem on its website:
"Last year, deep within the Soudan mine, QuarkNet teachers began a long-term
experiment to measure the amount of carbon-14 remaining in an initial 100-gram sample
at 2000-year intervals. The experiment will be complete in the year 32001. Fortunately, a
method for sending information backwards in time will be discovered in the year 29998,
so, although the experiment is far from over, the results are in."
Here is a portion of the data: $$\begin{array} { l | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | c } \text { Time (yr) } & 0 & 2000 & 4000 & 6000 & 8000 & 10,000 & 12,000 & 14,000 & 16,000 & 18,000 \\\hline \text { Mass (g) } & 100 & 76 & 61 & 47 & 36 & 29 & 22 & 17 & 13 & 10\end{array}$$
A scatterplot of these data looks like:
a. Straighten the scatterplot by re-expressing these data and create an appropriate model
for predicting the mass from the year.
b. Use your model to estimate what the mass will be after 7500 years.
c. Can you use your model to predict when 50 g of the sample will be left? Explain.

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Definitions:

Conservation Cost

The expenses associated with the actions taken to preserve natural resources or to minimize environmental impact.

Nonrenewable Resource

A natural resource that cannot be replenished or regenerated at the same rate at which it is consumed, such as oil, natural gas, and minerals.

Ethanol

A renewable fuel made from various plant materials collectively known as "biomass."

Economically Viable

A situation or project that is financially sustainable, able to generate revenue that exceeds its operating costs.