Answer: Pion TherapySubatomic particles called pions are | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for College Physics

Chapter 27 Problem 79PP

Question

Problem 79PP

Pion Therapy

Subatomic particles called pions are created when protons, accelerated to speeds very near c in a particle accelerator, smash into the nucleus of a target atom. Charged pions are unstable particles that decay into muons with a half-life of . Pions have been investigated for use in cancer treatment because they pass through tissue doing minimal damage until they decay, releasing significant energy at that point. The speed of the pions can be adjusted so that the most likely place for the decay is in a tumor.

Suppose pions are created in an accelerator, then directed into a medical bay 30 m away. The pions travel at the very high speed of 0.99995c. Without time dilation, half of the pions would have decayed after traveling only 5.4 m, not far enough to make it to the medical bay. Time dilation allows them to survive long enough to reach the medical bay, enter tissue, slow down, and then decay where they are needed, in a tumor.

The proton collision that creates the pion also creates a gamma-ray photon traveling in the same direction as the pion. The photon will get to the medical bay first because it is moving faster. What is the speed of the photon in the pion’s reference frame?

A. 0.00005c

B. 0.5c

C. 0.99995c

D. c

Solution

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The first step in solving 27 problem number trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: Problem 79PPPion TherapySubatomic particles called pions are created when protons, accelerated to speeds very near c in a particle accelerator, smash into the nucleus of a target atom. Charged pions are unstable particles that decay into muons with a half-life of . Pions have been investigated for use in cancer treatment because they pass through tissue doing minimal damage until they decay, releasing significant energy at that point. The speed of the pions can be adjusted so that the most likely place for the decay is in a tumor.Suppose pions are created in an accelerator, then directed into a medical bay 30 m away. The pions travel at the very high speed of 0.99995c. Without time dilation, half of the pions would have decayed after traveling only 5.4 m, not far enough to make it to the medical bay. Time dilation allows them to survive long enough to reach the medical bay, enter tissue, slow down, and then decay where they are needed, in a tumor.The proton collision that creates the pion also creates a gamma-ray photon traveling in the same direction as the pion. The photon will get to the medical bay first because it is moving faster. What is the speed of the photon in the pion’s reference frame?A. 0.00005cB. 0.5cC. 0.99995cD. c
From the textbook chapter Relativity you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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full solution

Title College Physics 12 
Author Randall D. Knight
ISBN 9780321595492

Answer: Pion TherapySubatomic particles called pions are

Chapter 27 textbook questions

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