The muon is an unstable particle that spontaneously decays into an electron and two neutrinos. In a reference frame in which the muons are stationary, if the number of muons at t = 0 is N0, the number at time t is given by N = N0e–t/t, where t is the mean lifetime, equal to 2.2 μs. Suppose the muons move at a speed of 0.95c and there are 5.0 x 104 muons at t = 0. (a) What is the observed lifetime of the muons? (b) How many muons remain after traveling a distance of 3.0 km?

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Chapter26: Relativity
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 14P: A box is cubical with sides of proper lengths L1 = L2 = L3, as shown in Figure P26.14, when viewed...
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The muon is an unstable particle that spontaneously decays into an electron and two neutrinos. In a reference frame in which the muons are stationary, if the number of muons at t = 0 is N0, the number at time t is given by N = N0e–t/t, where t is the mean lifetime, equal to 2.2 μs. Suppose the muons move at a speed of 0.95c and there are 5.0 x 104 muons at t = 0. (a) What is the observed lifetime of the muons? (b) How many muons remain after traveling a distance of 3.0 km?

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