The distance traveled by W+ and Z gauge bosons can be measured using various methods, such as particle detectors and colliders. Particle detectors track the paths of these bosons by detecting the particles produced when they decay, while colliders accelerate the particles and measure their trajectories.
The maximum distance that W+ and Z gauge bosons can travel is determined by their half-lives, which is the time it takes for half of the particles to decay. For W+ bosons, the half-life is approximately 3.2 x 10^-25 seconds, while for Z bosons, it is approximately 2.6 x 10^-25 seconds. This means that they can travel a maximum distance of about 0.1 millimeters before decaying.
Compared to other particles, W+ and Z gauge bosons have relatively short lifetimes and therefore travel much shorter distances. For example, the lifetime of a proton is about 10^33 times longer than that of a W+ boson, meaning it can travel much farther before decaying.
No, W+ and Z gauge bosons cannot travel faster than the speed of light. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the speed of light is the maximum speed at which any particle can travel. This applies to all particles, including W+ and Z bosons.
The distance traveled by W+ and Z gauge bosons is an important factor in their role in the Standard Model of particle physics. Their short lifetimes allow them to mediate the weak nuclear force, which is responsible for radioactive decay. The short distances they can travel also explain why this force is relatively weak compared to the strong nuclear force, which is mediated by particles with much longer lifetimes and therefore can act over longer distances.