RADIOCARBON DATING
This method was developed by Willard and Libby to determine the age of wood or animal fossils. This method is based onthe fact that 6C14, radioactive isotope of carbon is formed in the upper atmosphere by reaction with neutrons (from cosmic rays).
7N14
+ 0n1 ---
> 6C14 + 1H1
The C14 atoms thus produced are rapidly oxidised to 14CO2 which in turn is incorporated in plants as result of photosynthesis. Animals too consume C14 by eating plants. On death, organisms cease to take in fresh carbonations. Carbon-14 begins to decay.
6C14 -- > 7N14 + -1e0
5700 years a fossil (plant or animal) will lose half the amount of carbon-14 present in its living state. Therefore by knowing either the amount of C14 or the number of b-particles emitted per minute per gram of carbon at the initial and final stages, the age of carbon material can be determined by the following equation.
t = ( 2.303 t½ / 0.693 ) log ( Amount of C14 in fresh wood / Amount of C14 in dead wood)
Uses
1) Carbon dating has proved to be a great tool for
correlating facts of historical importance.
2) It is very useful in understanding the evolution
of life, and rise and fall of civilizations.
NUCLEAR REACTIONS TAKING PLACE IN SUN (STARS)
It has been estimated that the sun is giving out energy
equally in all possible directions at the
rate of 3.7 × 1033 ergs/sec. The energy of
the sun is supposed to arise from the
fusion of hydrogen nuclei into helium nuclei which in going on inside it all the time.
The various fusion reactions taking place in the sun are
as follows:
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