# Particle decay and relativity

1. Homework Statement

A particle with mass M decays into 2 particles of equal mass m.

1: Calculate the speed of the decay particles

2: Concider the case ρ->$$\Pi\Pi$$: M = 770 MeV and m$$\Pi$$= 140 MeV

2. Homework Equations

m = $$\gamma$$m(restmass) ?

3. The Attempt at a Solution

I suppose M/2 is restmass and found an expression for the speed. However since the mass increase when the speed approaches the speed of light, this would imply that m is a larger number than M/2. But in task 2, it says M/2 is larger than m$$\Pi$$, which implies i've done something wrong.

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1. Homework Statement

A particle with mass M decays into 2 particles of equal mass m.

1: Calculate the speed of the decay particles

2: Concider the case ρ->$$\Pi\Pi$$: M = 770 MeV and m$$\Pi$$= 140 MeV

2. Homework Equations

m = $$\gamma$$m(restmass) ?

3. The Attempt at a Solution

I suppose M/2 is restmass and found an expression for the speed. However since the mass increase when the speed approaches the speed of light, this would imply that m is a larger number than M/2. But in task 2, it says M/2 is larger than m$$\Pi$$, which implies i've done something wrong.

The question is ambiguous since you don't say in what frame the calculation is done. I assume in the rest frame of the decaying particle? Then the eenrgy of each produced particle is M/2 and this is equal to $$\gamma m c^2$$ where m is the mass of each produced particle.
The question is ambiguous since you don't say in what frame the calculation is done. I assume in the rest frame of the decaying particle? Then the eenrgy of each produced particle is M/2 and this is equal to $$\gamma m c^2$$ where m is the mass of each produced particle.