The Radioactivity Due to Carbon-14 Measured in a Piece of a Wooden

question 56

Multiple Choice

The radioactivity due to carbon-14 measured in a piece of a wooden casket from an ancient burial site was found to produce 20 counts per minute from a given sample, whereas the same amount of carbon from a piece of living wood produced 160 counts per minute. The half-life of carbon-14, a beta emitter, is 5730 years. Thus we would estimate the age of the artifact to be about

• A)5,700 years.
• B)11,500 years.
• C)14,800 years.
• D)17,200 years.
• E)23,000 years.

---

Definitions:

Approved

An acknowledgment or sanction indicating that something meets required standards, policies, or conditions for acceptance or implementation.

Customary

Established patterns of behavior or practices that are considered accepted and traditional within a particular social, cultural, or professional group.

Bribery

The offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of something of value as a means of influencing the actions of an individual or group in a position of power.

Illicit Advantage

Obtaining benefits or gains in an illegal or unethical manner, often through unfair practices or insider information.