A beam of unstable neutral pions is observed to travel on average 8 m before they decay. If their proper lifetime is 0.8 × 10^-8 s, then calculate how fast the beam is traveling. A) 0.96c B) 0.92c C) 0.29c D) 0.98c E) 3.5c

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The average distance traveled is related to the time dilation effect in special relativity. Using the formula for time dilation, the speed can be calculated as v = d / (γ * τ₀), where γ is the Lorentz factor. Solving for v gives approximately 0.96c.

A Beam of Unstable Neutral Pions Is Observed to Travel