Question

Pions have a half-life of 1.8 x 10^-8 s. A pion beam leaves an accelerator at a speed of 0.8c. What is the expected distance over which half the pions should decay?

Answer 1

the expected distance is 4.32 m

Step-by-step explanation:

given data

half life time = 1.8 ×
`10^(-8)` s

speed = 0.8 c = 0.8 × 3 ×
`10^(8)`

to find out

expected distance over

solution

we know c is speed of light in air is 3 ×
`10^(8)` m/s

we calculate expected distance by given formula that is

expected distance = half life time × speed .........1

put here all these value

expected distance = half life time × speed

expected distance = 1.8 ×
`10^(-8)` × 0.8 × 3 ×
`10^(8)`

expected distance = 4.32

so the expected distance is 4.32 m