Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

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

Chapter 32 - Elementary Particles - Questions - Page 943: 2

Answer

No, the decay is impossible.

Work Step by Step

Imagine shifting to the reference frame where the proton is at rest. Because the proton’s mass is less than the mass of the neutron and the pion, the decay cannot happen in that inertial frame. Therefore, it cannot happen in any frame.
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