4. if 25 % of the original radioactive isotope q remains in a sample of your fossil, approximately how old…
4. if 25 % of the original radioactive isotope q remains in a sample of your fossil, approximately how old is the fossil?\n5. does the age you determined support the claim about what species your fossil came from? be sure to explain your thinking.
Answer
Explanation:
Step1: Recall half - life concept
Radioactive decay follows an exponential pattern. If 25% = 1/4 of the original remains, it means 2 half - lives have passed.
Step2: Assume half - life value
Let the half - life of isotope Q be (t_{1/2}). The age (t = 2t_{1/2}). But without knowing (t_{1/2}) of Q, we can't give a numerical age.
Answer:
The fossil is 2 half - lives of isotope Q old. Without the half - life value of Q, a numerical age can't be determined. For question 5, no species claim given, so can't answer.