If the initial ratio of 14C to 12C in the bones was one part per trillion (the current ratio of 14C to 12C in the atmosphere), approximately what ratio would we expect in bones that come from wolves trapped 28,500 years ago

For the bones of wolves trapped 28,500 years ago, the approximate ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12, 14C to 12C, will be one part per 32 trillion.

Explanation:

Radioactive isotopes of elements are useful for many purposes. Carbon has three isotopes, carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14. Of these,  carbon-14 is radioactive.

The half-life of an carbon-14 is used to determine the age of fossils in a process known as carbon-dating.

Carbon-14 has a half-life of approximately 5700 years. The half-life being the time for half the amount of the radioactive nuclei present in a radioactive element to decay.

The number of half-lives in 28500 years  = 28500/57000 = 5 half-lives

This means that the original amount of atoms present in the atoms has undergone radiactive decay five times.

The ratio of the original amount of 14C to the present amount of 14C = (1/2)⁵ = 1/32

Ratio of 14C to 12C that will be found in the bones = 1/32 × 1/ 1 trillion = 1/32 trillion.

Therefore, for the bones of wolves trapped 28,500 years ago, the approximate ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12, 14C to 12C, will be one part per 32 trillion.