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Ch 44: Particle Physics and Cosmology
Young & Freedman Calc - University Physics 14th Edition
Young & Freedman Calc14th EditionUniversity PhysicsISBN: 9780321973610Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 44, Problem 28

What is the total kinetic energy of the decay products when an upsilon particle at rest decays to r++rr^+ + r^-?

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Step 1: Understand the problem. The upsilon particle (Υ) is initially at rest and decays into two tau particles (t⁺ and t⁻). Since the upsilon particle is at rest, its initial momentum is zero. The total kinetic energy of the decay products can be determined using conservation of energy and momentum principles.
Step 2: Apply the conservation of energy. The total energy of the upsilon particle before decay is equal to its rest energy, which is given by E = m_Υ * c², where m_Υ is the mass of the upsilon particle and c is the speed of light. After decay, this energy is distributed between the rest energy and kinetic energy of the tau particles.
Step 3: Write the energy equation for the decay products. The total energy of the system after decay is the sum of the rest energy and kinetic energy of the tau particles: E_total = 2 * (m_τ * c²) + KE_total, where m_τ is the mass of a tau particle and KE_total is the total kinetic energy of the tau particles.
Step 4: Use conservation of momentum. Since the upsilon particle is at rest, the momentum of the decay products must cancel out. This means the tau particles move in opposite directions with equal magnitudes of momentum. Use the relativistic energy-momentum relation: E² = (pc)² + (m * c²)², where p is the momentum, m is the mass, and E is the total energy of each tau particle.
Step 5: Solve for the total kinetic energy. Subtract the rest energy of the tau particles from their total energy to find their kinetic energy. Add the kinetic energy of both tau particles to find KE_total. The final expression for KE_total will depend on the mass of the upsilon particle and tau particles, as well as the speed of light.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion, calculated using the formula KE = 1/2 mv², where m is the mass and v is the velocity of the object. In particle physics, understanding kinetic energy is crucial for analyzing the energy distribution among decay products after a particle decay.
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Conservation of Energy

The conservation of energy principle states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. In the context of particle decay, the total energy before the decay (rest energy of the upsilon particle) must equal the total energy after the decay, which includes the kinetic energy of the decay products and their rest mass energy.
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Particle Decay

Particle decay refers to the process by which an unstable particle transforms into other particles, releasing energy in the form of kinetic energy and radiation. In this case, the upsilon particle decays into a pair of tau particles (t^+ and t^-), and understanding the dynamics of this decay is essential for calculating the total kinetic energy of the resulting particles.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The spectrum of the sodium atom is detected in the light from a distant galaxy. If the 590.0590.0-nm line is redshifted to 658.5658.5 nm, at what speed is the galaxy receding from the earth?

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Textbook Question

The spectrum of the sodium atom is detected in the light from a distant galaxy. Use the Hubble law to calculate the distance of the galaxy from the earth.

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Textbook Question

In which of the following reactions or decays is strangeness conserved? In each case, explain your reasoning.

(a) K++μ++νμK^{+}+\(\mu\)^{+}+\(\nu\)_{\(\mu\)}

(b) n+K+p+π0n+K^{+}\(\to\) p+\(\pi\)^0

(c) K++Kπ0+π0K^{+}+K^{-}\(\to\]\pi\)^0+\(\pi\)^0

(d) p+KΛ0+π0p+K^{-}\(\to\]\Lambda\)^0+\(\pi\)^0

Textbook Question

Table 44.344.3 shows that a Σ0Σ^0 decays into a Λ0Λ^0 and a photon. What is the magnitude of the momentum of the photon? Is it reasonable to ignore the final momentum and kinetic energy of the Λ0Λ^0? Explain.

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Textbook Question

If a Σ+Σ^+ at rest decays into a proton and a π0π^0, what is the total kinetic energy of the decay products?

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Textbook Question

In an experiment done in a laboratory on the earth, the wavelength of light emitted by a hydrogen atom in the n=4n = 4 to n=2n = 2 transition is 486.1486.1 nm. In the light emitted by the quasar 3C273 (see Problem 36.6036.60), this spectral line is redshifted to 563.9563.9 nm. Assume the redshift is described by Eq. (44.1444.14) and use the Hubble law to calculate the distance in light-years of this quasar from the earth.

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