Chapter S2, Problem 53EAP

Time Dilation with Subatomic Particles. A  ${\pi }^{+}$  meson produced at rest has a lifetime of 18 nanoseconds  $\left(1.8\times {10}^{-8}\text{s}\right)$ . Suppose a  ${\pi }^{+}$ meson is produced in a particle accelerator at a speed of 0.998c. How long will scientists see the particle last before it decays? Briefly explain how an experiment like this helps verify the special theory of relativity.