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Question 18M.3.SL.TZ1.a.ii

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Date May 2018 Marks available [Maximum mark: 1] Reference code 18M.3.SL.TZ1.a.ii
Level SL Paper 3 Time zone TZ1
Command term Deduce Question number a.ii Adapted from N/A
a.ii.
[Maximum mark: 1]
18M.3.SL.TZ1.a.ii

Muons are created in the upper atmosphere of the Earth at an altitude of 10 km above the surface. The muons travel vertically down at a speed of 0.995c with respect to the Earth. When measured at rest the average lifetime of the muons is 2.1 μs.

Deduce why only a small fraction of the total number of muons created is expected to be detected at ground level according to Galilean relativity.

[1]

Markscheme

time is much longer than 10 times the average life time «so only a small proportion would not decay»

[1 mark]

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