radiokarbonimittaus

Radiokarbonimittaus, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a scientific method used to determine the age of organic materials, such as wood, charcoal, bone, and ancient artifacts. The technique is based on the principle that all living organisms absorb carbon from the atmosphere, which contains a small but constant amount of the radioactive isotope carbon-14 (14C). When an organism dies, it stops absorbing carbon, and the 14C in its body begins to decay at a known rate. By measuring the remaining 14C in a sample and comparing it to the known decay rate, scientists can calculate the time elapsed since the organism's death.

Radiokarbonimittaus is particularly useful for dating materials that are up to about 50,000 years old. Beyond this age, the amount of 14C remaining is too small to be accurately measured. The method has been instrumental in various fields, including archaeology, geology, and climate science, providing valuable insights into the past. However, it is important to note that the accuracy of radiocarbon dating can be affected by factors such as contamination, calibration issues, and the specific conditions of the sample's environment. Despite these limitations, radiokarbonimittaus remains a fundamental tool in the study of the past.