answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

In all cases the scientist is trying to measure the amount of radioactive decay of carbon-14 isotopes in order to establish the amount of time that has passed since the death of a living thing. As such all methods are based on establishing the remaining carbon-14 in a sample. However the specific type of carbon-14 dating being used will dictate how this is done.

In the traditional approach the scientist is actually measuring the levels of beta activity from a sample. This is given off by the carbon-14 and so the amount of carbon-14 is established as the beta particles are used to identify the ratio of carbon-14 to its non-radioactive carbon-12.

More modern methods use accelerator mass spectrometry and an atom counting approach to actually measure number of atoms of carbon-14 in a sample. This is generally more precise, although often significantly more costly, and both methods are still in use depending on the lab.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

6d ago

A scientist who uses carbon-14 dating is measuring the amount of carbon-14 present in a sample. Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon that decays over time, allowing scientists to determine the age of organic materials.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What is a scientist who uses carbon-14 dating actually measuring?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Archaeology

Are carbon dating and radiocarbon dating the same?

Yes, carbon dating and radiocarbon dating refer to the same method of dating archaeological objects by measuring the decay of the isotope carbon-14.


Is a radioisotope commonly used in dating archeological artifact withnitrogen-14?

No, nitrogen-14 is not commonly used for radiometric dating. Carbon-14 is the radioisotope commonly used for dating archaeological artifacts by measuring its decay rate in organic materials.


What is a scientific method of determining the age of an artifact?

Radiocarbon dating is a widely used scientific method for determining the age of organic artifacts. By measuring the decay of carbon isotopes in a sample, scientists can determine its age within a certain range. Other methods, such as tree-ring dating and thermoluminescence dating, are also used for dating different types of artifacts.


What is a researcher who uses carbon dating?

A researcher who uses carbon dating is typically an archaeologist, anthropologist, or geologist. Carbon dating is a method used to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the decay of radioactive carbon isotopes. This dating technique is commonly applied to artifacts, fossils, and other remains to establish their chronology.


Could scientists use carbon dating to determine the age of hominids?

Yes, scientists can use carbon dating to determine the age of hominid fossils. Carbon dating relies on measuring the amount of carbon-14 present in a sample to estimate its age. However, carbon dating is typically used on organic materials up to around 50,000 years old, so other dating methods may be necessary for older hominid fossils.

Related questions

What do scientists use to determine a fossil's relative age?

Carbon14 dating (isotopic dating)


An artifact is found that some are claiming is 30000 years old 3.1 percent of the original carbon14 is present The halflife of carbon14 is 5730 year?

Yes, but the dating is only off a little (500 years or so).


What Limitations are there of using carbon14 to date rocks?

The main limitations of using Carbon14 dating to find the age of something that is carbon base are firstly the possibility that carbon may be absorbed by some things making it more difficult to get an absolutely accurate age and secondly, with Carbon14 only having a half life of 5,568 years the maximum theoretical limit for detection is 100,000 years.


What two things must scientist measure to find the absolute age of a rock?

scientists use carbon14 and potassium argon to find absolute age of rock


Why is carbon14 dating not accurate for estimating the age of materials more than 50.000 years old?

Too little carbon-14 remains after 50,000 years


A researcher who uses carbon dating on anciet items?

The half life of C14 is about 5700 years, so items that are a few multiples of this time are suitable for carbon14 dating. Most archaeological items are suitable, and some young fossils.


Who is fugative dating?

He is actually dating


What two ways do scientist use fossils to determine the environmental changes?

its radioactive dating and relative dating


What is the process of how a scientist can estimate the age of fossil?

carbon dating


Which scientist did not involve in the principles of regulating dating?

Most scientists were not


Which scientist developed carbon-14 dating?

Willard Libby


Who is Matthew Knight actually dating?

he is not actually dating anyone right now<3