The mean lifetime of stationary muons is measured to be 2.2000μs. The mean lifetime of high-speed muons in a burst of cosmic rays observed from Earth is measured to be 16.000μs. To five significant figures, what is the speed parameter βof these cosmic-ray muons relative to Earth?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The speed parameter of cosmic ray muons is 0.99050.

Step by step solution

01

Identification of given data 

The mean life time for stationary muons is t0=2.20μs

The mean life time for high-speed muons is t=16μs

The speed parameter in the above problem is found by considering the Lorentz factor as the ration of mean life time for stationary muons to mean life time of high-speed muons.

02

Determination of speed parameter of cosmic ray muon relative to Earth 

The speed parameter of cosmic ray muons is given as:

β=1-t0t2

Substitute all the values in equation.

β=1-2.20μs16μs2β=0.99050

Therefore, the speed parameter of cosmic ray muons is 0.99050

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