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Thenormal activity of living carbon-containing matter is found to beabout 15 decays per minute for every gram of carbon. This activityarises from the small proportion of radioactive present with the stable carbon isotope. When the organism is dead, its interaction with the atmosphere(which maintains the above equilibrium activity) ceases and itsactivity begins to drop. From the known half-life (5730 years) of,and the measured activity, the age of the specimen can beapproximately estimated. This is the principle of datingused in archaeology. Suppose a specimen from Mohenjodaro gives anactivity of 9 decays per minute per gram of carbon. Estimate theapproximate age of the Indus-Valley civilisation. |
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Answer» The |
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