Radiocarbon Dating Flashcards
1
Q
What is radiocarbon dating?
A
A process used to date the time an organism died and stopped absorbing CO2 by measuring the ratio of C-12: C-14 and determining the amount of time that has passed based on half-lives since the ratio matched that found in the atmosphere
2
Q
What is used to calibrate C-14 levels in the atmosphere?
A
Bristlecone pines, which can live for 5000 years and have a ratio of C-12 : C-14 in each of their growth rings corresponding to each year of life
