Use this paragraph: The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,700 years. A certain sample of wood has 20 grams of carbon-14 when it is alive.

Question

How many grams of carbon will it have after 5,700 years?

(1 point)
Responses

A. 5 grams
B. 10 grams
C. 2 grams
D. 40 grams

Answer 1

To calculate how much carbon-14 will remain after one half-life (5,700 years), we need to find half of the initial amount. The sample starts with 20 grams of carbon-14.

After 5,700 years:

• Remaining carbon-14 = Initial amount / 2
• Remaining carbon-14 = 20 grams / 2 = 10 grams

So, after 5,700 years, the sample will have 10 grams of carbon-14.

The correct response is: B. 10 grams