Lesson: Radiometric Dating

A rock contains g of rubidium-87 and g of strontium-87. The half-life of rubidium-87 is years. Assuming that all of the strontium-87 formed from the decay of rubidium-87, estimate the age of the rock to three significant figures.

Carbon-14 decays to nitrogen-14 with a half-life of 5,730 years. A piece of paper from the Dead Sea Scrolls has an activity of 10.8 decays per minute per gram of carbon. If the initial activity was 13.6 decays per minute per gram of carbon, estimate, to three significant figures, the age of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Carbon-14 decays to nitrogen-14 with a half-life of 5,730 years. A sample of plant material from an ancient Egyptian tomb has an activity of 9.07 decays per minute per gram of carbon. If the initial activity was 13.6 decays per minute per gram of carbon, estimate the age of the tomb to three significant figures.