To determine: The approximate age of the fossil by using the data represented in the graph given in the textbook. It is given that the carbon-14/carbon-12 ratio of a fossilized skull is about 6.25% of that of the skull of a present day animal.
Introduction: To estimate the death date of an organism, archaeologists study the radioactive decay of Carbon 14 in the organic material. Carbon is found in two forms in the organic matter of living organisms: stable form of Carbon 12 and the radioactive isotope Carbon 14. At particular period of time in lifetime of living organism, the ratio of these two carbon forms in the tissue is approximately same. But after the death of an organism the ratio of Carbon 12 to Carbon 14show changes due to the decay of carbon 14 to nitrogen 14 occurs.
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Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology (5th Edition)
- Explain why it is difficult to use carbon-14 dating on 100-million-year-old dinosaur fossilsarrow_forward(1) What is the most common way for a dead organism to avoid decomposition? (2) Why do researchers look for fossils in places that are now dry and barren instead of other places like forests or grasslands? (3) What kind of dating from the lecture or textbook would be the best method for finding the number of years ago when a volcanic rock was formed? (4) Why is the pelvis of a biped shorter and wider than the pelvis of a quadruped? (5) Does the overall shape of Lucy’s pelvis resemble the human pelvis or the chimpanzee pelvis more? Do not think of the size, but compare the outlines of each bone. This is Lucy's skelton below.arrow_forwardFossil A found closer to the surface compared to Fossil B. Which of the following conclusions can be made based on this statement?arrow_forward
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