Essential University Physics (3rd Edition)
3rd Edition
ISBN: 9780134202709
Author: Richard Wolfson
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 34, Problem 11FTD
To determine
Why Energy-time uncertainty limits the precision with which we can know the mass of the unstable particles.
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Mu mesons are subatomic particles which are created when cosmic rays strike the top of the
atmosphere. The travel downward at 99.5% of the speed of light. Mu meson counters were placed
at the top and bottom of Mt. Washington, which is 6265 feet (1909.6 m) tall. Mu mesons are
unstable particles with a half-life of 1.53 x 106 s.
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4. Typical measurements of the mass of a A particle (1230 MeV/c²) are shown in the figure. Although
the lifetime of the delta is much too short to measure directly, it can be calculated from the energy-
time uncertainty principle. Estimate the lifetime from the full width at half-maximum of the mass
measurement distribution shown.
25 MA
Le
1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500
Mass of the delta particle M/
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Most of the particles known to physicists are unstable. For example, the lifetime of the neutral pion,π0, is about 8.4x10-17 s. Its mass is 135.0 MeV/c2. a) What is the energy width of the π0 in its ground state? b) What is the relative uncertainty ∆m/m of the pion’s mass?
Chapter 34 Solutions
Essential University Physics (3rd Edition)
Ch. 34.2 - Prob. 34.1GICh. 34.3 - If you replot Fig. 34.7 for a material with a...Ch. 34.3 - Prob. 34.3GICh. 34.4 - Prob. 34.4GICh. 34.5 - Prob. 34.5GICh. 34.6 - Prob. 34.6GICh. 34 - Prob. 1FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 2FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 3FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 4FTD
Ch. 34 - Prob. 5FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 6FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 7FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 8FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 9FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 10FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 11FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 12FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 13FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 14FTDCh. 34 - Prob. 15ECh. 34 - The surface temperature of the star Rigel is 104K....Ch. 34 - Prob. 17ECh. 34 - Prob. 18ECh. 34 - Prob. 19ECh. 34 - Prob. 20ECh. 34 - Prob. 21ECh. 34 - Prob. 22ECh. 34 - Prob. 23ECh. 34 - Prob. 24ECh. 34 - Prob. 25ECh. 34 - Prob. 26ECh. 34 - Prob. 27ECh. 34 - Prob. 28ECh. 34 - Prob. 29ECh. 34 - Prob. 30ECh. 34 - Prob. 31ECh. 34 - Prob. 32ECh. 34 - Prob. 33ECh. 34 - Prob. 34ECh. 34 - Prob. 35ECh. 34 - Prob. 36ECh. 34 - Prob. 37ECh. 34 - Prob. 38PCh. 34 - Prob. 39PCh. 34 - Prob. 40PCh. 34 - Prob. 41PCh. 34 - Prob. 42PCh. 34 - Prob. 43PCh. 34 - Prob. 44PCh. 34 - Prob. 45PCh. 34 - Prob. 46PCh. 34 - Prob. 47PCh. 34 - Prob. 48PCh. 34 - Prob. 49PCh. 34 - Prob. 50PCh. 34 - Prob. 51PCh. 34 - Prob. 52PCh. 34 - Prob. 53PCh. 34 - Prob. 54PCh. 34 - Prob. 55PCh. 34 - Prob. 56PCh. 34 - Prob. 57PCh. 34 - Prob. 58PCh. 34 - Prob. 59PCh. 34 - Prob. 60PCh. 34 - Prob. 61PCh. 34 - Prob. 62PCh. 34 - Prob. 63PCh. 34 - Prob. 64PCh. 34 - Prob. 65PCh. 34 - Prob. 66PCh. 34 - Prob. 67PCh. 34 - Prob. 68PCh. 34 - Prob. 69PCh. 34 - Prob. 70PCh. 34 - Prob. 71PCh. 34 - Prob. 72PCh. 34 - Prob. 73PCh. 34 - Prob. 74PCh. 34 - Prob. 75PCh. 34 - Prob. 76PCh. 34 - Prob. 77PCh. 34 - Prob. 78PCh. 34 - Prob. 79PCh. 34 - Prob. 80PCh. 34 - Prob. 81PCh. 34 - Prob. 82PCh. 34 - Prob. 83PCh. 34 - Prob. 84PPCh. 34 - Prob. 85PPCh. 34 - Prob. 86PPCh. 34 - Prob. 87PP
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