A muon formed high in the Earth's atmosphere travels at a speed 0.990 c for a distance of 4.60 km before it decays.What is the muon's lifetime as measured in its reference frame? A)1.55 x 10^-5 s B)2.18 x 10^-6 s C)3.04 x 10^-6 s D)4.65 x 10^-6 s

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The muon's lifetime in its reference frame is calculated using time dilation. The proper time (muon's lifetime in its frame) is the distance divided by the speed, adjusted by the Lorentz factor for relativistic speeds.

A Muon Formed High in the Earth's Atmosphere Travels at a Speed