What is the Appropriate Age Range for Carbon Dating

Question

What is the appropriate age range for carbon dating?
A) Fossils older than 60,000 years old.
B) Fossils older than 4.5 billion years old.
C) Fossils between 60,000 years old and 4.5 billion years old.
D) Fossils less than 60,000 years old.
E) Fossils less than 4.5 billion years old.

Accepted Answer

Carbon dating is only suitable for objects that are less than 60,000 years old. This is because the half-life of carbon-14, the isotope used in carbon dating, is only 5,700 years. Therefore, carbon dating is not appropriate for fossils older than 60,000 years.