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Although there are many forms of radiation with zero rest mass, none of these forms of radiation are at rest. They possess energy and, as a result, also possess mass. The mass of any radiation can be calculated from its energy by the equation m=E/c2 where m is its mass (kg), E its energy (joules) and c its velocity. This is just another way of expressing the equation we have all heard E=mc2.
A good example is light. Although it has zero rest mass, it travels at 2.998 x 108 m/s and has energy. It therefore possesses mass.
The energy of a photon (quantum of light) is determined by its frequency and is given by E=hf where E is its energy, h is plank's constant (approx 6.6262 x 10-34 joule/sec) and f is its frequency in Hertz (Hz).
Suppose we take a microwave with a frequency of 10GHz. The energy of a single photon will be 6.6262 x 10 -24 joules. Further dividing this by the speed of light squared gives the mass of such a photon as 7.3 x 10-39 kg. That is VERY VERY VERY small but it is not zero.
In the end, there are no forms of massless radiation.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoMost cosmic rays that we detect on earth are muons. This is because the vast majority of cosmic rays which strike the earth's upper atmosphere are protons, and the collisions with nuclei in the air molecules make a lot of pions. Still with me? The pions then decay to muons and neutrinos. Neutrinos pass right through the earth and are extremely hard to detect; but the muons are quite easy to detect.
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What are the weaknesses of cosmic background radiation?
the weakness of cosmic back ground radiation as those radiation are left over of big bangs
What does the uniformity of cosmic radiation imply about its source?
The source of cosmic background radiation filled the entire universe.
Which theory is supported by the evidence of cosmic microwave backround radiation?
The evidence of cosmic microwave background radiation supports the Big Bang theory.
How ia cosmic background radiation related to the big bang theory?
The cosmic background radiation is believed to be the remains of the radiation emitted by the Universe when it started to get transparent - when it had cooled down to a temperature of about 3000 kelvin.
Where is the cosmic rays radiation located on the electromagnetic spectrum in relation to other kinds of radiation?
Cosmic rays are not part of the EM spectrum -- they are high energy charged particles.
What are the weaknesses of cosmic background radiation?
the weakness of cosmic back ground radiation as those radiation are left over of big bangs
What does the uniformity of cosmic radiation imply about its source?
The source of cosmic background radiation filled the entire universe.
What are the source of radiation?
Cosmic radiation External terrestrial and internal radiation
Cosmic radiation and radiation from terrestrial sources are examples of?
Natural background radiation
Did cosmic radiation kill the dinosaurs?
no
What caused the cosmic radiation background?
The big bang caused the background radiation.
What is the leftover thermal energy from the big bang?
The radiation left over from the big bang is found in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. As the universe expanded and cooled, the intense hard gamma radiation that existed became radio waves in the low gigahertz region, characteristic of a temperature around 30 Kelvin.
Which theory is supported by the evidence of cosmic microwave backround radiation?
The evidence of cosmic microwave background radiation supports the Big Bang theory.
Iss protection from radiation and cosmic rays?
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Who discovered cosmic radiation?
Richard Mewaldt.
What are the strengths of cosmic microwave radiation?
it is strong
What happens when a star becomes a black dwarf?
Then it will not emit any more radiation - except that it will eventually re-emit any radiation it receives, especially the cosmic background radiation.Then it will not emit any more radiation - except that it will eventually re-emit any radiation it receives, especially the cosmic background radiation.Then it will not emit any more radiation - except that it will eventually re-emit any radiation it receives, especially the cosmic background radiation.Then it will not emit any more radiation - except that it will eventually re-emit any radiation it receives, especially the cosmic background radiation.
