Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 26 - The Special Theory of Relativity - General Problems - Page 770: 74

Answer

$$ KE_{\mu} = \dfrac{ (m_{\pi} -m_{\mu})^2c^2}{2m_{\pi} }$$ See the detaied answer below.

Work Step by Step

Since the pi meson decays at rest to a muon and a neutrino (with negligible mass), so the net momentum must be zero and hence the neutrino and the muon must have the same momentum magnitude but in opposite directions. $$ p_{\mu}=p_{\nu}=p\tag 1$$ The net energy is assumed to be constant since we assume that the system is isolated. Thus, $$E_{\pi}=E_{\mu}+E_{\nu}\tag 2$$ Where the energy of the neutrnio is given by $$E_{\nu}=\sqrt{p_{\nu}^2c^2+m_{\nu}^2c^4}$$ Recall that the neutrino has a negligible mass, so $m_{\nu}=0$ $$E_{\nu}=\sqrt{p_{\nu}^2c^2+(0)c^4}$$ $$E_{\nu}=p_{\nu}c\tag 3$$ The energy of the muon is given by $$E_{\mu}=\sqrt{p_{\mu}^2c^2+m_{\mu}^2c^4}\tag 4$$ And the energy of the pi meson is given by $$E_{\pi}=\sqrt{p_{\pi}^2c^2+m_{\pi}^2c^4} $$ and since it was at rest, so $p_{\pi}=0$; $$E_{\pi}=\sqrt{(0)^2c^2+m_{\pi}^2c^4} $$ $$E_{\pi}=m_{\pi}c^2\tag 5 $$ Now we need to plug (3), (4), and (5) into (2); $$m_{\pi}c^2=\sqrt{p_{\mu}^2c^2+m_{\mu}^2c^4}+p_{\nu}c $$ and from (1); $$m_{\pi}c^2=\sqrt{p^2c^2+m_{\mu}^2c^4}+pc $$ $$m_{\pi}c^2-pc =\sqrt{p^2c^2+m_{\mu}^2c^4}$$ Squaring both sides; $$\left[m_{\pi}c^2-pc \right]^2= p^2c^2+m_{\mu}^2c^4 $$ $$ m_{\pi}^2c^4- 2m_{\pi}c^3p +\color{blue}{p^2c^2} =\color{blue}{ p^2c^2}+m_{\mu}^2c^4 $$ $$ m_{\pi}^2c^4- 2m_{\pi}c^3p =m_{\mu}^2c^4 $$ Solving for $p$; $$ p =\dfrac{m_{\pi}^2c^4-m_{\mu}^2c^4}{2m_{\pi} c^3} $$ Notice the common factor $c^2$; $$ p =\dfrac{m_{\pi}^2c^2-m_{\mu}^2c^2}{2m_{\pi} c } \tag 6$$ We know that the kinetic energy of the muon is given by $$E_{\mu}=KE_{\mu}+m_{\mu}c^2$$ Thus, $$KE_{\mu} =E_{\mu}-m_{\mu}c^2\tag 7$$ And from (2); $$ E_{\mu} =E_{\pi}-E_{\nu} $$ Plugging from (3) and (5); $$ E_{\mu} =m_{\pi}c^2 -pc $$ Plugging into (7); $$KE_{\mu} =m_{\pi}c^2 -pc -m_{\mu}c^2=(m_{\pi}c^2 -m_{\mu}c^2)-pc $$ Plugging $p$ from (6); $$KE_{\mu} =(m_{\pi}c^2 -m_{\mu}c^2)- \dfrac{m_{\pi}^2c^2-m_{\mu}^2c^2}{2m_{\pi} }$$ $$KE_{\mu} = \dfrac{2m_{\pi}^2c^2- 2m_{\pi}m_{\mu}c^2- m_{\pi}^2c^2-m_{\mu}^2c^2}{2m_{\pi} }$$ $$KE_{\mu} = \dfrac{ m_{\pi}^2c^2- 2m_{\pi}m_{\mu}c^2 -m_{\mu}^2c^2}{2m_{\pi} }$$ $$KE_{\mu} = \dfrac{ [m_{\pi}^2 - 2m_{\pi}m_{\mu} -m_{\mu}^2]c^2}{2m_{\pi} }$$ $$\boxed{KE_{\mu} = \dfrac{ (m_{\pi} -m_{\mu})^2c^2}{2m_{\pi} }}$$
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