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Muons are elementary particles that are formed high in the
Chapter 17, Problem 42E(choose chapter or problem)
Muons are elementary particles that are formed high in the atmosphere by the interactions of cosmic rays with atomic nuclei up there. Muons are radioactive and have average lifetimes of about two-millionths of a second. Even though they travel at almost the speed of light, very few should be detected at sea level after traveling through the atmosphere—at least according to classical physics. Laboratory measurements, however, show that muons in great number do reach Earth’s surface. What is the explanation?
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QUESTION:
Muons are elementary particles that are formed high in the atmosphere by the interactions of cosmic rays with atomic nuclei up there. Muons are radioactive and have average lifetimes of about two-millionths of a second. Even though they travel at almost the speed of light, very few should be detected at sea level after traveling through the atmosphere—at least according to classical physics. Laboratory measurements, however, show that muons in great number do reach Earth’s surface. What is the explanation?
ANSWER:Solution 25E Introduction The phenomenon can be explained in two different ways, though the both explanations are equivalent. One explanation is the length contraction from the muon frame of reference and the other explanation is time dilation from the laboratory frame of reference. Explanation 1 The muon particles are travelling at a speed very close to light with respect to the laboratory frame of refe