Radiocarbon Dating Calculator (¹⁴C)
Estimate the age of an organic sample from the remaining fraction of ¹⁴C using the 5,730-year half-life.
How to Use the Radiocarbon Dating Calculator (¹⁴C)
- Enter the measured ¹⁴C content of the sample as a percentage of living-organism baseline.
- Click Calculate to see estimated age.
Anwendungsfälle
- •Archaeology.
- •Quaternary paleontology.
- •Teaching exponential decay.
Formel
t = −ln(N/N₀) · T₁ᐟ₂ / ln2, where T₁ᐟ₂ = 5730 years (Libby half-life updated to Cambridge).
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What is the usable range?
About 500–55,000 years. Below 500 there is insufficient decay; above 55,000 ¹⁴C counts drop below detection.
Why 5730 not 5568?
Libby's original half-life was 5568 years; modern Cambridge half-life is 5730. Published ages sometimes still report the Libby value for continuity.