Skip to main content

Previous

Oklo: a natural nuclear reactor

Next

Exponentials

Dating with carbon-14

The half-life of the carbon isotope 14C can be used to date organic material. Derek Jacobs explains the physics behind carbon-14 dating

Organic material found in archaeological digs can be dated accurately based on carbon-14 decay

The terms in bold link to topics in the AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA A-level specifications, as well as the IB, Pre-U and SQA exam specifications.

The isotope14Cis produced in nuclear reactions involving cosmic radiation.The amount of 14Cin a sample can be found by counting beta particles emitted in its radioactive decay or by mass spectrometry, using the motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields.

Your organisation does not have access to this article.

Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise

Subscribe

Previous

Oklo: a natural nuclear reactor

Next

Exponentials

Related articles: