Uranium 238 (U-238) has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. Geologists find a rock containing a mixture of U-238 and lead, and they determine that 85% of the original U-238 remains; the other 15% has decayed into lead. How old is the rock?

An Introduction to Physical Science
14th Edition
ISBN:9781305079137
Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
Publisher:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
Chapter24: Geologic Time
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 11MC: If the half-life of a radioactive specimen is 100 years, then how long will it take for the specimen...
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Uranium 238 (U-238) has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. Geologists find a rock containing a mixture of U-238 and lead, and they determine that 85% of the original U-238 remains; the other 15% has decayed into lead. How old is the rock? 

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