A particle has γ=18,399.  a) Calculate c-v in m/s.  (I would have asked for 1 - v/c, making the answer dimensionless, but the system doesn't seem to take numbers that small.  Gamma is chosen to make the particle extremely close to the speed of light.) If your calculator gives problems, you might want to solve the appropriate equation for c-v or c(1 - v/c) and use an approximation. b) In a race to the moon, by 3/4ths the distance, light is one or ten meters ahead of the particle.  We routinely approximate mass as zero, gamma as infinite, and speed as the speed of light.  ("Massless particles" -- gamma and m have to be eliminated from the expressions.  Light is a true massless particle.) If a massless particle has momentum 1,739 MeV/c, calculate its energy in MeV.

Modern Physics
3rd Edition
ISBN:9781111794378
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer
Chapter1: Relativity I
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 13P: The muon is an unstable particle that spontaneously decays into an electron and two neutrinos. If...
icon
Related questions
Question

A particle has γ=18,399. 

a) Calculate c-v in m/s.  (I would have asked for 1 - v/c, making the answer dimensionless, but the system doesn't seem to take numbers that small.  Gamma is chosen to make the particle extremely close to the speed of light.)

If your calculator gives problems, you might want to solve the appropriate equation for c-v or c(1 - v/c) and use an approximation.

b) In a race to the moon, by 3/4ths the distance, light is one or ten meters ahead of the particle.  We routinely approximate mass as zero, gamma as infinite, and speed as the speed of light.  ("Massless particles" -- gamma and m have to be eliminated from the expressions.  Light is a true massless particle.)

If a massless particle has momentum 1,739 MeV/c, calculate its energy in MeV.

Thank you so much!!

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Length contraction and Lorentz equation
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Modern Physics
Modern Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781111794378
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
University Physics Volume 3
University Physics Volume 3
Physics
ISBN:
9781938168185
Author:
William Moebs, Jeff Sanny
Publisher:
OpenStax