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Radiocarbon dating is a method for estimating the age of organic material by measuring the ratio of Carbon 14 to Carbon 12 present. This technique is based on the measured concentration of carbon-14 in the atmosphere,assuming relative stability, and uses the [[half-life]] of carbon-14, which is 5568 ± 30 years.
Radiocarbon dating is a method for estimating the age of organic material by measuring the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 present. This technique is based on the measured concentration of carbon-14 in the atmosphere, assuming relative stability, and uses the [[half-life]] of carbon-14, which is 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.
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.