Let’s Do This

1.Potassium 40 is a radioactive material that can be use in radiometric dating. Especially if the rocks or
fossils is more than 300,000 year old. Potassium-40decayed every 1. 3 billion years.
2. Complete the table below to understand the half-life of potassium-40with initial amount of 100g.
Number of Half Elapsed time Amount of Amount of Argon- Ratio of Argon-40
Lives (Billion of years) Potassium-40 40 present to Potassium-40
present

0 0 Billion years 100 g 0 0:1

1 1.3 Billion years 50 g 50 g 1:1

2 2.6 Billion years 25 g 75 g 3:1

3 3.9 Billion years 12.5 g 87.5 g 7:1

4 5.2 Billion years 6.25 g 93. 75 g 15:1

3.Plot a graph showing the fraction of isotopes in y-axis and time elapsed in billion years in x-axis.
Elapsed Time (Billion of years) Fraction form
0 Billion years 100 g = 1
1.3 Billion years 50 g = ½
2.6 Billion years 25 g = ¼
3.9 Billion years 12.5 = 1/8
5.2 Billion years 6.25 = 1/16
Elapsed Time (Billion of years) Fraction form
0 Billion years 0g=0
1.3 Billion years 50 g = ½
2.6 Billion years 75 g = ¾
3.9 Billion years 87.5 = 7/8
5.2 Billion years 93.5 = 15/16