Carbon Dating

Author: Andrew R. Barron

Since we can determine the amount of an isotopic element that remains after a specific period of time, we can conversely determine the time over which a specific sample has been decaying once we know the rate constant for that element. This is the basis of carbon dating. Carbon dating is a process whereby the age of a material that contains carbon can be determined by comparing the decay rate of that material with that of living material.

Carbon-14 has a half life (t_1/2) of 5.73 x 10³ years for its decay to nitrogen-14 by the loss of a β particle.

Using Equation 1,

In 1947 samples of the Dead Sea Scrolls were analyzed by carbon dating. It was found that the carbon-14 present had an activity of d/min.g (where d = disintegration); by contrast in living material the activity is 14 d/min.g. Thus, using Equation 2,

Thus,

From the measurement performed in 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls were determined to be 2000 years old giving them a date of 53 BC, and confirming their authenticity. This discovery is in contrast to the carbon dating results for the Turin Shroud that was supposed to have wrapped Jesus’ body. Carbon dating has shown that the cloth was made between 1260 and 1390 AD. Thus, the Turin Shroud is clearly a fake having been made over a thousand years after its supposed manufacture.