Radiocarbon dating is a method for determining the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years old. It is based on the fact that radiocarbon (14C) is a radioactive isotope of carbon with a half-life of 5,730 years. This means that half of the 14C in a sample will decay into nitrogen-14 (14N) in 5,730 years. By measuring the amount of 14C in a sample, scientists can determine its age.
Radiocarbon dating is most commonly used to date organic materials, such as wood, bone, and plant material. It can also be used to date some inorganic materials, such as charcoal and water. However, it is not suitable for dating materials that are too old or too young. For example, radiocarbon dating cannot be used to date rocks or fossils that are more than 58,000 years old, because the amount of 14C in these materials is too low to be detected.
Radiocarbon dating is a valuable tool for archaeologists and geologists. It can be used to date artifacts and fossils, and to determine the age of geological events. It is also used in a variety of other fields, such as art history, paleontology, and forensics.
The other options are incorrect because they are not materials that can be dated using radiocarbon dating. Rocks are too old, monuments are made of a variety of materials, and soil is constantly being renewed.