PhysicsLAB: The Ax Handle

An archeologist extracts a sample of carbon from an ancient ax handle and finds that it emits an average of 10 beta emissions per minute. She finds that the mass of the carbon from a living tree emits 40 betas per minute.

Knowing that the half life of carbon-14 is 5730 years, she concludes that the age of the ax handle is about

a) 2865 years b) 5730 years
c) 11460 years d) 17190 years

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