This website requires a browser which supports HTML5.
Some elements of this site will not work correctly until you upgrade your browser.
Muons
and
the
Special
Theory
of
Relativity.
A
muon
is
a
subatomic
particle
created
in
the
upper
atmosphere
by
cosmic
rays.
Cosmic
rays
are
thought
to
come
from
black
holes
or
the
merging
of
supermassive
stars.
These
muons
are
members
of
the
lepton
family.
Muons
are
created
about
15,000
meters
above
sea
level.
They
have
a
decay
time
of
approximately
2
milliseconds
and
travel
at
near
the
speed
of
light.
More
muons
are
detected
at
sea
level
than
should
be.
THE
ANSWER
TO
THIS
CAN
BE
EXPLAINED
BY
THE
SPECIAL
THEORY
OF
RELATIVITY.
Muon
Info
Muons
and
the
Special
Theory
of
Relativity.
From
the
frame
of
reference
of
the
muon.
It
has
a
lifetime
of
approximately
2
milliseconds.
It
is
travelling
at
0.998c
The
distance
it
travels
in
its
frame
of
reference
is
found
by:
The
muon
will
travel
598
m
from
where
it
was
created.
Show/hide
on
diagram
Muons
and
the
Special
Theory
of
Relativity.
From
the
frame
of
reference
of
the
Earth
The
lifetime
of
the
muon
will
be
time
dilated
as
observed
from
the
earth`s
frame
of
reference.
The
frame
of
reference
of
the
muon
is
observed
to
be
moving
at
0.998c
So
the
time
the
muoun
exists
can
be
found
from
the
time
dilation
equation.
The
muon
will
travel
9,472
m
from
where
it
was
created
relative
to
the
Earth’s
frame
of
reference
BUT
it
will
still
only
travel
598
m
in
its
frame
of
reference!
Show/hide
on
diagram