Question

Particles called muons are produced high in Earth’s atmosphere and move at high speeds. They have a very short lifetime, and many more reach Earth’s surface than would be predicted using classical physics. Which of the following descriptions of muon behavior provides a reason for refining classical physics in some situations?

Answer 1

The behavior of muons reaching Earth's surface in greater numbers than predicted by classical physics led to the refinement of classical physics and the adoption of Einstein's theory of relativity, which explains the observed time dilation for fast-moving muons.

Step-by-step explanation:

Particles called muons are produced high in Earth's atmosphere and because they move at high speeds, they experience time dilation according to the theory of relativity. In classical physics, which operates under Newtonian assumptions about time and space, the lifetime of a muon would be too short for many of them to reach Earth's surface after being created in the upper atmosphere. However, extensive experimental evidence supports the fact that as the muons move at speeds close to the speed of light, they experience a longer lifetime from the perspective of an Earth-bound observer compared to their internal clocks. This observed time dilation effect means that more muons can reach the Earth's surface than would be predicted by classical physics. Therefore, this behavior has been a reason for the refinement of classical physics into modern physics, which includes Einstein's theory of relativity to explain such phenomena.