A muon has a lifetime of 2.2E-8 s in its own rest frame. If it travels with a speed of 0.95c, how far will it travel before it decays?

Solution:

The distance if vt, but the time is longer by a factor g.

d=20.1 m

Example #2

Problem:

A meter stick flies by with an apparent length of 60 cm. What is its velocity?

Solution:

Starting with g equal to (1/0.6), solve for v.

v = 0.8c = 2.4E8 m/s

Example #3

Problem:

        Two space ships approach each other with velocities of 0.9c. According to an observer on the space ship, what is the velocity of the other ship.

Solution:

Use the velocity addition formula, . Both u and v are 0.9c.

v' = 0.9944c

Example #4

Problem:

a.) Two space ships travel in the same direction, with one travelling at 0.9c, the other travelling at 0.99c. What is the velocity of the faster ship according to an observer on the slower ship.

Solution:

Again use the velocity addition formula, with u = 0.99c and v = - 0.9c.

v' = 0.825c

b.) What is the velocity of the slower ship according to an observer on the faster ship?

v' = -0.825c

Example #5

Problem:

        A proton and an antiproton approach each other moving with a velocity of 0.999c. They fuse to form a new particle. What is the mass of the created particle?

Solution:

        The energy of each proton is m₀gc². Multiplying it by two and dividing by c² gives the new particle's mass.

m = 7.5E-26 kg