Carbon is an element common in living (organic) matter with C-12 and C-14 occurring in similar abundances. These isotopes combine with Oxygen to form Carbon Dioxide which plants use in photosynthesis. When these plants die, the C-12 and C-14 decay at different rates. (Radioactive decay occurs when an atom decays into a different element. Carbon-14 decays to Nitrogen-14.) Radiocarbon dating is a common technique used to find the age of dead organic matter by measuring the difference between C-12 and C-14 in a sample. This sample could be an ancient plant or animal. Use the C-14 curve below to answer the questions in the discussion section.

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