Time Dilation and Carbon Dating

[day07]

Greetings, <br /><br />Please do not take this as a theological attack on a Proven Scientific Principle. I am merely curious as to how we use carbon dating to determine the age of Materials found on our Planet. <br /><br />My understanding of the process of Carbon Dating is as follows.... A collection of Carbon atoms will have a Statistical Variance in the Occurance of C(12-14) Isotopes. This Occurance, as I understand it, is strictly tied to the overall 'life' of the substance. By calculating the total amount of C(12) or C(14) in a Carbon Sample, we can determine the Sample's Age relative to the Observer (Us).<br /><br />My question is this.... <br />If all Carbon that is created is shot out of Supernova Explosions, and the 'Time' experienced by the Carbon itself is subject to the Speed at which the Carbon is Travelling as predicted in Relativity. How can we determine the Carbon's 'Age' without knowing the Overall Speed and Distances Traveled?

 

[vogon13]

C14 is 'made fresh' so to speak from nitrogen (IIRC) atoms that are zapped by cosmic rays. The process is stable and with the current techniques used for 'counting atoms' is quite accurate.<br /><br />Did you know that the variable width of tree growth rings is similar in large areas. And that by examining old lumber, the specific patterns of growth (for instance, wide, narrow, narrow, average, wide) literally 'bar code' the age of the wood. IIRC, this 'clock' is accurate to the year for centuries and centuries. Dates found via this method have verified the C14 clock.<br /><br />Once verified, the C14 technique can also be applied to organic material found not in association with artifacts datable via the tree ring method. <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[day07]

Thanks for the Reply, <br /><br />If I understand correctly, The Total Time the Substance Theoretically flew around the galaxy at Near-Light speeds would be irrelavant. Carbon dating tells us how long the substance has existed on the Planet. The verification method proves this through comparison with an Earth-Bound / Relative clock. <br /><br />Am I properly understanding your explination? Again I appreciate the response you have pretty much settled the issue in my mind.

 

[vogon13]

Sorry I glossed over that, the N is in earths' atmosphere. I can't remember which isotope of nitrogen is involved (its heck to get old). With the N here, the C14 is formed in earth's atmosphere and incorporated into living organisms. As soon as the organism dies, the C14 acquistion stops. By comparing how much C14 is left in a sample compared to something fresh, a fairly accurate amount of time can be computed for the length of time the item has been dead. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[day07]

Thanks to both of you. I definately have a better understanding of the process now. It was a lingering question in my mind but I knew it had to be a lack of understanding that caused it <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[igorsboss]

IIRC, the math behind carbon dating requires us to assume that we know what the C14/C12 ratio was when the oranism died. This is one of the key sources of error in all radioactive dating methods.<br /><br />If the C14/C12 ratio in a sample is altered (by accident or otherwise), then the calculated date would be incorrect.<br /><br />That is why it is so important that we validate the C14 dating method against tree ring data. Without that validation, we would not know the original C14/C12 ratio. However, now that we have the tree ring data, C14 has become very handy indeed.

 

[jatslo]

<font face="”verdana”">Relative to velocity is irrelevant.</font>