Carbon comes in 2 main isotopes, C12 and C14. There is a ratio in the environment of C12 to C14. When living things eat and create organic molecules in their bodies, the ratio is the same as in the environment. This ratio is fixed at death.
After death, the carbon C14 decays by one of its neutrons throwing of an electron, and in the process the C14 becomes a different isotope of nitrogen which then loses its bonds to some of the other atoms around it and it goes into the atmosphere. Thus, the ratio of C12 to C14 changes. Carbon 14 has a half-life of about 6000 years. So the ratio changes to favor the stable C12. The half life and the ratio is the way to estimate the age, although I don't know the math. Eventually all of the C14 decays away,and that is why carbon dating in only good for a few hundred thousand years.
I thank God for giving us the gift of carbon dating so that science can free us of the tyranny of sacred writings. Thank you, God.
And the same applies to other, longer lived isotopes and daughter products. The biggest impediment to accuracy becomes determining whether or not the rock or fossil in question was “reset” at some time by weathering or metamorphic events and that’s where you have to start looking at the lithic thermal gradient etc...
Heck, bristlecone pines provide dendrochronology back 50-60K years with carbon confirmation.
One thing you did not mention is that the carbon ratio is based on the amount of sunlight hitting the earth. Less sunlight will show older than true results. If the earth had a thick cloud layer before the flood, everything would appear much older than it really is.
Has anyone determined the effect of pressure on C14 decay? If C14 can be PROVEN to be effected by pressure, then all dating is wrong. Bones buried under tons of rock and dirt are subject to tremendous pressure.
Has anyone ever raised this question?
I believe the ratio of c14/c12 is not always the same as c14 is produced in upper atmosphere by nuclear teactions secondary to cosmic ray bombardment...nuclear reactors can make it...burning old fossil fuel can change the ratio of c14/c12 in atmosphere..also one doesnt know the ratio of c14/c12 in object at time of fixation since c14/c12 ratio is variable. How does one calibrate an unknown vs. another unknown?
I believe it was Anderson who in 1971 published papers demonstrating that the decay rate of c14 did not behave as a statistical Poisson distribution in an electrified monolayer preparation. The decay rate was not constant. Have you ever wondered why (statistically speaking)one particular c14 will decay...while the one next door waits 5730 years...give or take a few years to decay? I dont know...could it be that unknown nuclear reactions unrelated to time make a c14 atom decay....?
Clearly you’re not very smart at all.....