The Hadron collider and discovery of the Higgs boson

Question 1

What are atoms?

Answer 1

An atom is a substance that cannot be broken down chemically. An atom contains a nucleus filled with protons (positive charge) and neutrons (neutral) On the outside, electrons (negative charge) are surrounding it.

Question 2

What is the standard model?

Answer 2

The standard model

The standard model was developed in the 1970s, and explains the mechanism of what everything is made of and how it holds together. As a result, it explains the interactions between forces and subatomic particles. With previous knowledge of subatomic particles such as protons, neutrons and electrons, the discovery of new subatomic particles has been found.

Question 3

What is the higgs field?

Answer 3

Higgs field

The Higgs field is a field that is thought to be accompanied by the Higgs Boson particle, a carrier that interacts with other particles such as electrons.

Question 4

What is the Large hadron collider?

Answer 4

The large hadron collider is a ring shaped machine that sends beams of charged particles, moving it in opposite directions, forcing it to collide. This eventually leaves tracks, resulting in physicists to study the mechanism. From this, they discovered a new particle that is believed to be consistent with the Higgs boson as predicted in the standard model.

Question 5

Why is this discovery important?

Answer 5

This brought greater understanding of the mechanism correlating to mass of subatomic particles. Without the discovery of the higgs field and higgs boson, fundamental particles such as electrons and protons would not have mass.

Question 6

What was the impact of the discovery of the Higgs Boson?

Answer 6

Impact

• Gave an insight and understanding of dark matter
• Allows scientists to develop new particles that could have practical applications
• Develop a broader understanding into the standard model and the universe
• Develop fundamental understanding of the structure of matte