in living things what is the source of the carbon-14 that is used in radiocarbon dating answers.com

Paleontologists often cannot directly date fossils themselves and instead must use isotopes with a longer half-life, such as uranium, to approximate age. The carbon isotope would vanish from Earth's atmosphere in less than a million years were it not for the constant influx of cosmic rays interacting with molecules of nitrogen N 2 and single nitrogen atoms N in the stratosphere. Other labs accept waterlogged wood while others prefer them dry at submission. Recognize the Importance of Carbon Abundance The accuracy of carbon dating relies on a constant level of carbon in the atmosphere. For example, every person is hit by about half a million cosmic rays every hour. Further radioisotopic methods beyond carbon have relevance in present-day agriculture and ongoing crop production. Finally, the ions of the radioactive carbon isotope 14 C, after passing through the electrostatic analyser, reach the detector that allows for counting them.

IN LIVING THINGS WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE CARBON-14 THAT IS USED IN RADIOCARBON DATING ANSWERS.COM / morphy.info

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