Carbon Dating Questions

Most recent answer: 10/17/2009

Q:
In Carbon Dating, material decomposes over time in accordance with its half-life. a) Is this pace increased by light radiation? b) Is this only possible with organic matter/compounds? c) If this indeed does work with rock and inorganic material, if a large amount high-energy light were to simultaneously be sucked into a black-hole, would the black hole thus deteriorate and break down?
- Curious (age years)
somewhere
A:
Dear Curious,
The answers to your questions are:
a) No
b) No
c) No
In sum, the half life of C14,  5568 years, is not affected by light, gravity or anything. It is only affected by the strength of the weak force coupling constant.

LeeH

(published on 10/17/2009)