Carbon dating

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Revision as of 18:25, 17 September 2007

Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a scientific procedure used to date organic matter. It depends upon the radioactive decay of carbon-14, an unstable isotope of carbon. Carbon dating has a certain margin of error, usually depending on the age and material of the sample used.

Carbon-14 has a half life of about 5700 years.

Because the level of atmospheric C-14 is not constant, dates must be calibrated based on C-14 levels in samples of known ages.[1]

See also C-decay theory.

References

  1. http://www.c14dating.com/corr.html
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