We can use our our general model for exponential decay to calculate the amount of carbon at any given time using the equation, N (t) = N0e kt . Modeling the decay of 14C. Other radioactive isotopes are also used to date fossils.

What is a carbon-14 half-life?

5,730 ± 40 years Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 ± 40 years—i.e., half the amount of the radioisotope present at any given time will undergo spontaneous disintegration during the succeeding 5,730 years.