Special relativity in the school laboratory: A simple apparatus for cosmic-ray muon detection

Article OPEN
Singh, P.; Hedgeland, H.;
(2015)
  • Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing
  • Subject:
    arxiv: Physics::Instrumentation and Detectors | Physics::Physics Education
We use apparatus based on two Geiger-Müller tubes, a simple electronic circuit and a Raspberry Pi computer to illustrate relativistic time dilation affecting cosmic-ray muons travelling through the atmosphere to the Earth's surface. The experiment we describe lends itse... View more
  • References (2)

    References [5] Datasheet for the 2N3904 NPN general [1] Einstein A 1905 Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter purpose amplifier, from Fairchild Körper Ann. Phys., Lpz. 17 891 Semiconductowrww.fairchildsemi.com/ [2] Rossi B 1948 Interpretation of cosmic-ray ds/2N/2N3904.pdf phenomena Rev. Mod. Phys. 20 537 [6] WiringPi library for Raspberry Pi http://wiringpi.

    [3] Pfeffer J I and Nir S 2000 Modern Physics: an com/ Introductory Text (London: Imperial College Press) [7] Datasheet for the Black Cat Systems GM-45 [4] Kempa J and Brancus I M 2003 Zenith angle distribu- detector www.blackcatsystems.com/GM/ tions of cosmic ray muons Nucl. Phys.1B22 279 products/GM45GeigerCounter.html

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