Half-Life Flashcards
1
Q
What is half-life
A
Time taken for a sample of radioactive material to be half its original mass
2
Q
What is the parent isotope
A
Original isotope
3
Q
What is the daughter isotope
A
What the parent decays into
4
Q
What is the half life equation
A
Nt = N0 (1/2)^t/T
Nt = Remaining substance
N0 = Initial substance
t = Time elapsed
T = Half life
5
Q
What is radiocarbon dating
A
A method used to determine the age of ancient artifacts using the half life of an isotope
6
Q
Examples of radiocarbon dating
A
Carbon dating (C-14)
Potassium-40/Argon-40 clock
