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Scientists have developed several methods to determine the age of ancient or prehistoric materials, and one of the most widely used techniques is Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating. This method relies on the radioactive decay of carbon-14 (¹⁴C), a naturally occurring isotope of carbon.
Carbon-14 is produced in the atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen atoms. It then enters the food chain through plants and animals. All living organisms maintain a constant ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 (¹²C) while alive. However, when an organism dies, it stops absorbing carbon-14, and the isotope begins to decay into nitrogen-14 at a known half-life of about 5730 years. By measuring the remaining carbon-14 in a sample, scientists can calculate the time that has elapsed since the organism died, allowing them to estimate the age of prehistoric materials such as bones, wood, and artifacts.
Other options are incorrect:
Radium dating (Option 1) is not commonly used for dating historical materials.
Uranium dating (Option 2) is used for much older geological samples, such as rocks, rather than typical archaeological specimens.
Deuterium dating (Option 4) is not a recognized method for dating prehistoric materials.
Carbon dating has revolutionized archaeology, paleontology, and geology by providing accurate age estimates for ancient remains. It helps scientists reconstruct the timeline of human history, evolution, and climate changes.
In conclusion, the system that uses radioactivity to determine the period of prehistoric materials is Carbon dating (Option 3). Understanding this method helps students connect radioactive decay principles with practical applications in history and science.
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