Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 37 - Relativity - Problems - Page 1148: 45

Answer

In the Earth rest frame, the pion decays at an altitude of $~~110~km$

Work Step by Step

We can find $\gamma$: $E = \gamma~mc^2$ $\gamma = \frac{E}{mc^2}$ $\gamma = \frac{1.35\times 10^5~MeV}{139.6~MeV}$ $\gamma = 967$ We can find $\Delta t$ in the Earth frame: $\Delta t = \gamma~\Delta t_0$ $\Delta t = (967)(35.0~ns)$ $\Delta t = 33.845~\mu s$ We can find the pion's speed: $\gamma = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-\beta^2}}$ $1-\beta^2 = \frac{1}{\gamma^2}$ $\beta^2 = 1-\frac{1}{\gamma^2}$ $\beta = \sqrt{1-\frac{1}{\gamma^2}}$ $\beta = \sqrt{1-\frac{1}{(967)^2}}$ $\beta = 0.999999465$ We can find the distance the pion travels before it decays: $d = (0.999999465~c)(33.845~\mu s)$ $d = (0.999999465)~(3.0\times 10^8~m/s)(33.845~\mu s)$ $d = 10~km$ In the Earth rest frame, the pion decays at an altitude of $~~110~km$
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