noun
- an unstable subatomic particle similar to an electron but with a much greater mass
Usage: physics
Examples
- The muon has a mass about 200 times greater than an electron.
- Scientists detected muons in cosmic ray showers hitting Earth’s atmosphere.
- The muon decays into an electron and two neutrinos.
- Particle accelerators can produce muons for research purposes.
- Muons have a very short lifespan of about 2.2 microseconds.
- The discovery of the muon helped scientists understand particle physics better.