Question
The burial cloth of an Egyptian mummy is estimated to contain 56% of the carbon-14 it contained originally. How long ago was the mummy buried? (the half-life of carbon-14 is 5730). Please round the answer to the nearest tenth. I have figured that:
m(t) = Moe(-ln2/5730) is a starting point
m(t) = Moe(-ln2/5730) is a starting point
Answers
MathMate
Let
P<sub>14</sub> = fraction of C<sub>14</sub> found in sample (0.56)
T<sub>1/2</sub> = radioactive half life (5730 years)
Then
Age of sample
=T<sub>1/2</sub>*(ln(P<sub>14</sub>)/ln(0.5)) (Before present)
=5730*(ln(0.56)/ln(0.5)) (BP)
=4793 (BP)
P<sub>14</sub> = fraction of C<sub>14</sub> found in sample (0.56)
T<sub>1/2</sub> = radioactive half life (5730 years)
Then
Age of sample
=T<sub>1/2</sub>*(ln(P<sub>14</sub>)/ln(0.5)) (Before present)
=5730*(ln(0.56)/ln(0.5)) (BP)
=4793 (BP)