Question

Find the age of an ancient Egyptian wooden article (in years) from the given information.
(i) Activity of $1g$ of carbon obtained from ancient wooden article $=7$ counts/min/g
(ii) Activity of $1g$ carbon from fresh wooden sample $=15.4$ counts per min/g
(iii) Percentage increase in level of $C^{14}$ due to nuclear explosion in past 100 years is $10$%
(iv) $t_{1/2}$ of ${}_6{C}^{14}=5770$ years.

• A. $5.770\times {10}^3$
• B. $16.87\times {10}^3$
• C. $2488$
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is A $5.770\times {10}^3$

Percentage increase in level of $C^{14}$ due to nuclear explosion in past 100 years is $10$% so without this increment counting of fresh carbon is 14 (15.4/1.1) counts per min/g and activity of 1g of carbon obtained from ancient wooden article is 7 counts/min/g.

So, age of this wooden is one half time $=5770$ years.