Cosmic rays are high-energy particles originating from deep space, consisting primarily of protons and other light atomic nuclei.
Table 1 shows the physical data for one specific cosmic ray nucleus, X.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Mass / kg\text{kg}kg | 3.17 × 10-26 |
| Specific charge / C kg−1\text{C kg}^{-1}C kg−1 | 4.54 × 107 |
| Kinetic energy / MeV\text{MeV}MeV | 180 |
Determine the number of neutrons in nucleus X.
Calculate the speed of nucleus X. Ignore relativistic effects.
When cosmic rays collide with particles in the upper atmosphere, positive pions (π+\pi^+π+) and positive kaons (K+K^+K+) are produced.
The π+\pi^+π+ decays to produce a positive muon (μ+\mu^+μ+) and a muon neutrino (νμ\nu_\muνμ). Show how the conservation laws apply to this decay.
The K+K^+K+ decays to produce a positive muon (μ+\mu^+μ+) and a muon neutrino (νμ\nu_\muνμ). Explain how strangeness applies in this decay.
Write an equation for a K+K^+K+ decay that involves only hadrons.