MCAT Question of the Day
    •

    Q:

    		 Suppose the half-life of 14C (currently 5730 years) has doubled in the last 50,000 years. When calculating the age of a specimen, if the changing rate is not taken into account when using 5730 as the half-life, how will the calculated age compare to the actual age? Note that the age is calculated after first determining the number of half-lives.
    		 

    A

    		 The calculated age will be greater than the actual age because less 14C is present than there would be if the half-life had not changed

    B

    		 The calculated age will be greater than the actual age because more 14C is present than there would be if the half-life had not changed

    C

    		 The calculated age will be less than the actual age because less 14C is present than there would be if the half-life had not changed

    D

    		 The calculated age will be less than the actual age because more 14C is present than there would be if the half-life had not changed



    Nuclear Chemistry |
    Subscribe


    Is Your Score Stuck?

    We can teach you how to crush the MCAT!

    Learn More