Difference between revisions of "Radiocarbon dating"
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| − | Radiocarbon dating is a method for estimating the age of material by measuring the amount of radiocarbon in it. This technique is based on assumptions about the concentration of carbon-14 in the atmosphere, and measured [[half-life]] of carbon-14 as approximately 5568 ± 30 years. | + | Radiocarbon dating is a method for very roughly estimating the age of material by measuring the amount of radiocarbon in it. This technique is based on assumptions about the concentration of carbon-14 in the atmosphere, and measured [[half-life]] of carbon-14 as approximately 5568 ± 30 years. |
When the age of the material is a few thousand years old, the assumptions become more important and the estimates are less reliable. Sometimes due to atmospheric disturbances the level of carbon-14 varies. For example, testing of [[nuclear bomb|nuclear weapons]] in the atmosphere nearly doubled the concentration of carbon-14 in the Northern Hemisphere. For this reason, other isotopes with longer half-lives are used to date objects beyond the accuracy levels of carbon-14. For instance, the decay of potassium-40 is often used to accurately date dinosaur fossils. | When the age of the material is a few thousand years old, the assumptions become more important and the estimates are less reliable. Sometimes due to atmospheric disturbances the level of carbon-14 varies. For example, testing of [[nuclear bomb|nuclear weapons]] in the atmosphere nearly doubled the concentration of carbon-14 in the Northern Hemisphere. For this reason, other isotopes with longer half-lives are used to date objects beyond the accuracy levels of carbon-14. For instance, the decay of potassium-40 is often used to accurately date dinosaur fossils. | ||
| + | Often concentrations of other materials such as argon can render carbon dates wildly inaccurate. Thus carbon dating cannot be considered as a definitive way of establishing the age of a given sample. | ||
Revision as of 22:44, March 21, 2007
Radiocarbon dating is a method for very roughly estimating the age of material by measuring the amount of radiocarbon in it. This technique is based on assumptions about the concentration of carbon-14 in the atmosphere, and measured half-life of carbon-14 as approximately 5568 ± 30 years.
When the age of the material is a few thousand years old, the assumptions become more important and the estimates are less reliable. Sometimes due to atmospheric disturbances the level of carbon-14 varies. For example, testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere nearly doubled the concentration of carbon-14 in the Northern Hemisphere. For this reason, other isotopes with longer half-lives are used to date objects beyond the accuracy levels of carbon-14. For instance, the decay of potassium-40 is often used to accurately date dinosaur fossils. Often concentrations of other materials such as argon can render carbon dates wildly inaccurate. Thus carbon dating cannot be considered as a definitive way of establishing the age of a given sample.