Radiocarbon Dating Calculator
Estimate age from remaining carbon-14.
Carbon-14 dating estimates the age of organic remains from the C-14 left.
How the Math Works
The Radiocarbon Dating Calculator uses the fundamental principle of radioactive decay to estimate age. The formula age = -8267 × ln(fraction) is based on carbon-14's known half-life of approximately 5,730 years. The 'fraction' represents the proportion of carbon-14 remaining in the sample compared to living material. The natural logarithm (ln) function captures how the decay follows an exponential pattern, while the constant 8267 is derived from dividing the half-life by ln(2). When you input the fraction of carbon-14 remaining, the calculator applies this mathematical relationship to determine how many years have passed since the organism's death.
Practical Applications
To use this calculator practically, first determine the fraction of carbon-14 remaining in your sample through laboratory analysis, typically measured as a percentage or decimal ratio. Enter this fraction value directly into the calculator - for example, if 25% of the original carbon-14 remains, input 0.25. The calculator then instantly computes the estimated age in years. This tool is most accurate for samples up to about 50,000 years old, as older samples contain too little carbon-14 for precise measurement. Scientists and archaeologists use this calculation alongside other dating methods to establish chronological frameworks for artifacts, fossils, and historical materials.
Day-to-Day Use
While you may not calculate carbon dating yourself daily, this technology profoundly impacts our understanding of history and the world around us. Radiocarbon dating helps museums determine the age of ancient artifacts, assists archaeologists in sequencing historical discoveries, and enables scientists to study ancient climate changes through preserved organic materials. When you visit a museum exhibition or read about historical discoveries, radiocarbon dating provides the scientific foundation that places these findings in proper chronological context. This technology bridges the gap between the ancient past and our modern world, helping us understand human evolution, migration patterns, and cultural development in ways that pure historical records cannot achieve.
Worked example
50% remaining → ~5,730 years.
FAQ
Limit?
Reliable to roughly 50,000 years.