MINERvA: Measuring

MINERvA: Relativity and the Mechanics of Muon Decay

Essential Questions

The muons and protons in these exercises are moving at speeds near the speed of light. How does Einstein's theory of special relativity govern the relationships between speed, momentum and energy?
What does Einstein's E=mc^2 have to do with the energy spectrum of the electrons from muon decay?
There are three particles (not two, not just the electron) at the end of the muon decay process. Why?

Activities and Resources

Reference material on special relativity

Use Arachne to examine the correlations between speed, momentum and kinetic energy for muons and for protons

Need to develop this activity (anchor into teacher guide)

Analysis of the energy distribution of electrons from muon decay

Understanding why the electrons in muon decay have this distribution of energy (anchor into teacher guide

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0619727 to the University of Rochester with a subaward to the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.