m7MuonDecay

VISUAL PHYSICS ONLINE
LIGHT and SPECIAL RELATIVITY

EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION
MUON DECAY
Experimental evidence for time dilation and length contraction
Does Einstein's theory of special relativity accurately describe

the motion of objects traveling close to the speed of light?
The theory of Special Relativity has made many astonishing

predictions. Einstein did not receive his Noble Prize for his
Theory of Special Relativity but for a more minor contribution to
our understanding science – the Photoelectric Effect. Scientist at
the time, were uncertain of Einstein’s predictions – they were so
inconceivable and so against long-held believes. For more than a
century, experiments have been carried out to test Einstein’s
theories. So far, all experimental evidence has been confirmed
the predictions of special relativity and general relativity.
Muons are unstable particles with a rest mass of 207 times that
of an electron and a charge of ±1.6x10-19 C. Muons decay into
electrons or positrons with an average lifetime of 2.2 s as
measured in their inertial frame of reference.
When high energy particles called cosmic rays (such as protons)

enter the atmosphere from outer space, they interact with air
molecules in the upper atmosphere creating a cosmic ray shower
of particles including muons that reach the Earth’s surface. The
muons created in these cosmic ray showers travel at 0.98c w.r.t
to the Earth.
Newtonian (classical) point of view

Speed of muons
v = 0.98c = (0.98)(3.0x108) m.s-1 = 2.94x108 m.s-1
Average lifetime of muons (proper time)
t0 = 2.2 s = 2.2x10-6 s
Average distance travelled by muon before decaying
L0 = v t0 = (2.94x108)(2.2x10-6) m = 650 m
Hence, from a Newtonian point of view, muons would not be

able to reach the Earth’s surface from the upper atmosphere
where they are produced.
However, experiments show that a large number of muons do
reach the Earth’s surface in cosmic ray showers.
Special relativity point of view
Height above Earth’s surface muon produced
L0 = 100 km = 1.0x105 m (proper length)
From point of view of muons the distance to the Earth’s surface

is contracted to a shorter length L
v2
L  L0 1  2  2.0  103 m
c
This contracted distance is much less and so many muons will be
able to reach the Earth’s surface.
From an observer viewing the muon approaching, time intervals

for moving “clock” will be dilated.
Average lifetime of muons (proper time)
t0 = 2.2 s = 2.2x10-6 s
Dilated average lifetime w.r.t. Earth observer t = ? s
t0
t  1.11  10 5 s
v2
1 2
c
Average distance travelled by muons
L   0.98 c  1.11 105   3.2  103 m
Average distance is now short enough so that many muons will

reach the Earth’s surface.
Another look at muon decay
The decay of muon can be accurately described by the
radioactive decay law
N  N0 e t   log e 2 / t1/2 t1/2  log e 2 / 
where N 0 and N are the number of detected muons at times
t  0 and time t respectively. t1/ 2 is the half-life (time for the
number of muons detected to halve) and  is the decay

constant. The measured half-life and decay constant for muons
at rest in the laboratory are
t1/2  1.52  106 s   4.56  105 s -1
An experiment was performed by placing a Geiger counter to

detect muons on the top of a mountain 2000 m high. The muons
are assumed to be moving at a speed equal to 0.98c. In a time
interval T the Geiger counted 1000 muons. The Geiger counter
was moved to the bottom of the mountain, 2000 m below the
peak. In the same time interval T, the Geiger counter registered
540 muons. these are the muons that survived the trip without
decaying.
Classically, we can calculate the number of muons surviving the
trip.
distance travelled by muons s  2000m
speed of muons v  0.98 c  2.94  108 m.s-1

s
time interval for trip t   6.80  10 6 s -1
v
Number of surviving muons
N ? N 0  1000   4.56  105 s -1 t  6.80  106 s
N  N 0 e   t  45
So, only 45 muons should survive the trip. Something is wrong !!!
Our classical theory predicts 45 muons, but measurements
record 540 muons. The problem must be approached using
special relativity. The muons are moving at a speed of 0.98c w.r.t
the Earth. so, we must take into account the time dilation effect.
1
  v  0.98c   5
2
v
1
c2
The Earth based clock records a time interval of 6.80x10-6 s for

the muon to travel from the top to the bottom of the mountain.
t  6.80  106 s
The Earth based observes see the muon’s “moving clock” record
the proper time t0
t0
t   t0
2
v
1
c2
t6.80  10 6
t0   s  1.36  10 6 s
 5
In the muon’s rest frame, the decay of the muon is given the
radioactive decay law is
N ? N 0  1000   4.56  105 s -1 t  1.36  106 s
N  N 0 e   t  538
The number of muons surviving the trip is 538, which is in

agreement with observations. An experiment like this was
performed by B. Rossi and D. Hall in 1941 at Mount Washington,
New Hampshire, U.S.A. Their results agreed with the predictions
of special relativity and not the predictions of classical physics.
Fig. 1. The number of muons detected at the top of the
mountain is 1000 whereas at the bottom of the mountain
only 540 survived without decaying. The experimental
result agrees with our time dilation equation.
VISUAL PHYSICS ONLINE
If you have any feedback, comments, suggestions or corrections

please email:
Ian Cooper School of Physics University of Sydney
[email protected]

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VISUAL PHYSICS ONLINE

LIGHT and SPECIAL RELATIVITY

Does Einstein's theory of special relativity accurately describe

The theory of Special Relativity has made many astonishing

When high energy particles called cosmic rays (such as protons)

Newtonian (classical) point of view

Hence, from a Newtonian point of view, muons would not be

From point of view of muons the distance to the Earth’s surface

From an observer viewing the muon approaching, time intervals

L   0.98 c  1.11 105   3.2  103 m

Average distance is now short enough so that many muons will

number of muons detected to halve) and  is the decay

An experiment was performed by placing a Geiger counter to

speed of muons v  0.98 c  2.94  108 m.s-1

The Earth based clock records a time interval of 6.80x10-6 s for

The number of muons surviving the trip is 538, which is in

VISUAL PHYSICS ONLINE

If you have any feedback, comments, suggestions or corrections

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