Radiocarbon (Noun)
Meaning
A radioactive isotope of carbon.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Scientists use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of ancient organic materials by measuring the amount of radiocarbon present.
- The half-life of radiocarbon is approximately 5,730 years, making it an ideal tool for dating archaeological sites.
- Radiocarbon is a radioactive isotope of carbon that is formed in the Earth's atmosphere through the interaction of cosmic rays and nitrogen.
- The amount of radiocarbon in a sample decreases over time, allowing researchers to calculate the age of the sample.
- By comparing the amount of radiocarbon in a sample to the amount present in living organisms, archaeologists can estimate the age of the sample.