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The half-life of radioactive material is useful for radioactive dating. For example, All organisms on earth have a given concentration of carbon-14. Since carbon-14 has a half life of 5700 years, scientists can fairly estimate the lifespan of an organism based on its carbon-14 content. This is done by measuring the amount of carbon-14 left from its (previously calculated in a lab) initial amount. If there is exactly a quarter of the initial amount of carbon-14 left in an organism, then it is safe to assume that the organism is 11400 years old. This is why the half-life of a radioactive material is useful for radioactive dating.

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3y ago
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4d ago

Half-lives are useful to archaeologists because they allow them to determine the age of artifacts and materials by measuring the amount of radioactive isotopes remaining. By calculating the decay rates, archaeologists can estimate the time that has passed since the material was last heated or exposed to sunlight, providing valuable insights into the chronology of past civilizations.

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6y ago

Radioactive dating.

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Q: Why are half lives useful to an archeologist?
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