Q268 · Practice questionComplex familiar3 marks
QUESTION 268 (3 marks)
An unstable particle has mean proper lifetime . A laboratory measures its mean lifetime as . The particle speed is constant. Use .
a)[3 marks]
Determine the particle speed as a fraction of c and its mean laboratory travel distance.
WORKED SOLUTION
3 marksPractice marking scheme
ANSWER
(a) ; mean distance .
Worked solution
(a) . Thus . Mean distance is .
Equivalent physically justified methods, alternative valid sketches and consistent units accepted.
Accept sensible significant figures and consistent rounding from stated constants.
Part a: Determine the Lorentz factor.
Part a: Solve for v/c.
Part a: Use laboratory speed and laboratory mean lifetime for the distance.
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