Measuring the angles of muons and electrons in air showers is proposed
as a method for studying the primary cosmic-ray mass composition near
the knee of the cosmic-ray energy spectrum at a few 10(15) eV. Conven
tional tracking detectors at existing air-shower arrays could serve th
is purpose, like the CRT detectors at the HEGRA array. When the averag
e radial muon angles are examined as a function of shower core distanc
e, the experimental resolution can be very well calibrated from the ta
ngential angle distribution. The method is particularly promising for
measuring changes in the average mass number of the primary cosmic ray
s with energy. The method is described and experimental and theoretica
l constraints are discussed.