Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 36 - Relativity - Exercises and Problems - Page 1098: 16

Answer

The time that passes in the cosmic ray's reference frame is $~346~\mu s$

Work Step by Step

We can find the speed of the cosmic ray according to the Earth's reference frame: $v = \frac{d}{t} = \frac{60\times 10^3~m}{400\times 10^{-6}~s} = 1.5\times 10^8~m/s = 0.5~c$ We can find the time $t_0$ that passes in the cosmic ray's reference frame: $t' = \gamma~t_0$ $t_0 = \frac{t'}{\gamma}$ $t_0 = t'~\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}$ $t_0 = t'~\sqrt{1-\frac{(0.5~c)^2}{c^2}}$ $t_0 = (400~\mu s)~\sqrt{1-(0.5)^2}$ $t_0 = 346~\mu s$ The time that passes in the cosmic ray's reference frame is $~346~\mu s$
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