A meson moving through a laboratory of length x at a speed v decays after a lifetime T as measured by an observer at rest in the laboratory.If the meson were at rest in the laboratory its lifetime would be: A)T(1 - v/c) B)T(1 - v/c)^-1 C)T(1 - v²/c²)^-1/2 D)T(1 - v²/c²)^1/2 E)(T - vx/c²)(1 - v²/c²)^-1/2

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is based on the concept of time dilation in special relativity, which states that the time interval between two events as measured in a frame moving relative to the observer is longer than the time measured in the observer's rest frame. The formula for time dilation is $T' = T/\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}$, where $T'$ is the dilated time, $T$ is the proper time, $v$ is the velocity of the moving frame relative to the observer, and $c$ is the speed of light. This matches option D.

A Meson Moving Through a Laboratory of Length X at a Speed