- #1
SecretSnow
- 66
- 0
Homework Statement
42. If a charged pion that decays in 10−8 second in its own rest frame is to travel 30
m in the laboratory before decaying, the pion’s speed must be most nearly
(A) 0.43 × 108 m/s
(B) 2.84 × 108 m/s
(C) 2.90 × 108 m/s
(D) 2.98 × 108 m/s
(E) 3.00 × 108 m/s
Homework Equations
Time dilation and length contraction formula? They are not given though..
The Attempt at a Solution
I tried to use the time dilation formula and I think that for the observer (me), the time I think the pion is experiencing should be 8.6*10^-8s and when i use this to find the speed, which is 30/t, where t is the dilated time, i get a speed more than the speed of light which is false! I am stuck at this lol. Have I used any wrong formula to calculate the speed? (That is, for relativistic speeds, I shouldn't use 30/t?) If so, which equation should I use? Thanks! I hope you can help me with this question as I would be attending a local junior olympiad soon, I am in year 10 now.