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 1100: 50

Answer

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Work Step by Step

First, let's assume that the Earth's frame is $\rm S$ and the muon’s frame is $\rm S'$ where the speed of $\rm S'$ relative to $\rm S$ is $v\approx c$ (We know that the speed of a muon is $0.9997c $). The time it takes the muon to hit the ground in $\rm S$ frame is then given by $$t=\dfrac{L}{c}=\dfrac{60\times 10^3}{3\times 10^8}=\bf 200\;\rm \mu s$$ where we know that the half-lifetime of a muon is only 1.5 $\mu$s. Recalling that the muon speed is close to the speed of light which means that the distance traveled by the muon in $\rm S'$ frame is not 60,000 m, it is given by $$L'=L\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}$$ Plug the known; $$L'=60,000\sqrt{1-\frac{0.9997^2c ^2}{c^2}}=\bf 1.47\;\rm km$$ Now we can find the time $t'$ of $\rm S'$ that makes the muon able to reach the ground. $$t'=\dfrac{L'}{c}=\dfrac{1.47\times 10^3}{3\times 10^8}=\bf 4.90\;\rm \mu s$$ This shows that the fraction of muons reaching the ground is $$\left[0.5\right]^{t'/T}=\left[0.5\right]^{4.9\mu/1.5\mu}=0.10$$ which is the same known fraction.
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