Radioactive decay question. W(t) = W(0)^(-0.000122t) where W(t) is the number of Carbon atoms left after "t" years. Assume W(0) = 6x10^10. Assume we cannot detect C if there are less than 10^3 atoms. What is the oldest fossil we can date?
Set W(t) = 103 and solve for t.
103 = 6*1010*e-0.000122t You didn't have an "e" in your expression, but I suspect it should be there, so I've included it.
Divide both sides by 6*1010
10-7/6 = e-0.000122t
Take logs (natural log) of both sides:
ln(10-7/6) = -0.000122t
Divide both sides by -0.000122
t = -ln(10-7/6)/0.000122 = (7*ln(10)+ln(6))/0.000122
t=(7×ln(10)+ln(6))0.000122⇒t=146802.091149068645811
t ≈ 146802 years
Set W(t) = 103 and solve for t.
103 = 6*1010*e-0.000122t You didn't have an "e" in your expression, but I suspect it should be there, so I've included it.
Divide both sides by 6*1010
10-7/6 = e-0.000122t
Take logs (natural log) of both sides:
ln(10-7/6) = -0.000122t
Divide both sides by -0.000122
t = -ln(10-7/6)/0.000122 = (7*ln(10)+ln(6))/0.000122
t=(7×ln(10)+ln(6))0.000122⇒t=146802.091149068645811
t ≈ 146802 years