The Cosmic Ray Telescope · AI Generator #GEN-3FA9FD7C

Physics

Problem

A high-energy cosmic ray muon is created at an altitude of

h = 15.0\;\text{km}

above Earth's surface when a cosmic ray proton collides with an atmospheric nucleus. The muon travels vertically downward at speed

v = 0.98c

relative to Earth. Muons have a proper lifetime of

\tau_0 = 2.20\;\text{μs}

before they decay. A ground-based detector measures the muon's momentum when it arrives at Earth's surface. In the muon's rest frame, what is the distance between its creation point and the detector when the muon is created? Express your answer in kilometers.

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