This past October of 2013, François Englert and Peter W. Higgs were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Physics for 2013. “For the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider". Both Englert and Higgs proposed the theory of how particles acquire mass. It was 1964 when both men proposed this theory independently. It wasn’t until the year 2012, that both men had their ideas confirmed by discovery of the Higgs Boson particle (particle responsible for giving mass to objects) at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland. This discovery has helped scientists to better explain and understand how the most basic and smallest building blocks of the Universe have mass.
Immediately after the Big Bang, the first particles that were formed in our universe were massless and flew around the universe at the speed of light. However, about a billionth of a second later, things changed and particles somehow had mass, including the quarks and electrons that make up atoms. Hence, the building blocks of everything that surrounds us. Nevertheless, without the theory of giving particles mass, the universe would be absent of starts, planets, and life.
Thus, the discovery of the Higgs Boson was behind a more central idea called the Standard Model. The Standard Model essentially explains how the very basic building blocks of matter interact. That is to say, matter is made of two different types of particles- quarks and leptons. Each group (quarks and leptons) consists of six particles. These are deemed in what scie...
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...s that the Higgs boson is one of the missing pieces of the standard model.
Overall, the present and future significance of the Higgs Boson particle is that the particle could possibly help scientists get a better grip on dark matter and visible matter. The discovery of this particle will help scientists better understand the fundamental building blocks of the universe. Or rather, the smallest building blocks of matter! Thus, the Standard Model would be considered or proved incorrect if it weren’t for this recent discovery of the Higgs boson. In regards to the future significance of the Higgs boson particle, one can imagine what the future holds for particle physics. Scientists will now try to discover the gravitation theory more. Nevertheless, this recent discovery will hopefully inspire the present and future generations to invest in science and technology.
Einstein's equation "E=mc^2" has two sides which is constructive and destructive. The constructive side is when energy is converted into mass and the destructive side is when a small amount of mass is converted into energy. According to Einstein’s equation, the physicists of the Manhattan project hypothesized that a minute mass ...
Matter, as we conceive it today, did not exist after the Big Bang, because the temperature was too high for that. While trying to join protons and electrons, light continually crossed apart. Only when the universe had cooled to 3,000 K, the atoms are held together and the light was beginning to happen.
A theory can lead to the development of a model which provides a visual representation and explanation of the scientists’ understanding. A model can assist in predicting what could happen if a particular incident occurs. An example of a model is the Niels Bohr model of the atom.
First, special relativity describes the laws of motion of an object which moves at high speed. Meanwhile it offered the mass-energy relation which is E=mc^2 (E=energy m=mass c=speed of light). Although Einstein didn’t believe in quantum mechanics2, his mass-energy relation still helped in the establishment of it. Also this relation built the mathematical model ...
This aspect of relativity explained the phenomena of light bending around the sun, predicted black holes as well as the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) -- a discovery rendering fundamental anomalies in the classic Steady-State hypothesis. For his work on relativity, the photoelectric effect and blackbody radiation, Einstein received the Nobel Prize in 1921.
For centuries, physicists and philosophers alike have wondered what makes up our universe. Aristotle thought that all matter came in one of four forms: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Since then we have come a long way, with the discovery of the atoms and the subatomic particles they are made of. We can even guess at what makes up protons and neutrons. We have since then discovered and predicted the existence of particles other than the atom, such as the photon, neutrino, axion, and many others.
For over a hundred years now a battle has been raging over the origin of the Universe and man. Soldiers of Science have drawn the battle lines with each side using various scientific and non - scientific theories as their weapons.
! Before the theory of Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), physicist George Gamow predicted that the energy of the Big Bang was enough to create all of the elements in the universe. Two of his students later calculated that this was not possible. (Scientific American) Since a certain amount of energy is needed for nucleosynthesis, or the formation of heavier nuclei from smaller nuclei or particles, ...
Theory is an attempt to explain the unexplained, to give title to the untitled and to give reason to the unreasonable. It is a combination of existing knowledge and newly acquired knowledge that allows us to make assumptions in order to realize reasonably foreseeable outcomes. It is only in the realms of science, physics and mathematics that the repeated application
In 1803 this theory was finalised and stated that (1) all matter is made up of the smallest possible particles termed atoms, (2) atoms of a given element have unique characteristics and weight, and (3) three types of atoms exist: simple (elements), compound (simple molecules), and complex (complex molecules).
The theory of quantum mechanics has divided the atom into a number of fundamental sub-atomic particles. Although the physicist has shown that the atom is not a solid indivisible object, he has not been able to find a particle which does possess those qualities. Talk of particles, though, is misleading because the word suggests a material object. This is not the intention for the use of the word in quantum physics. Quantum particles are, instead, representations of the actions and reactions of forces at the sub-atomic level. In fact, physicists are less concerned with the search for a material particle underlying all physical objects and more interested in explaining how nature works. Quantum theory is the means that enables the physicist to express those explanations in a scientific way.
Matter takes up space. According to the defining characteristics of matter and energy, matter can only be located in one location at any point in time while the superposition of energy is possible (Nave). Due to only being able to occupy one location, the phenomenon of two particles of mass occupying the same space would disprove that matter is different than energy (“What is Matter?”). When positrons (positively charged electrons) and electrons, which are both fermions, collide they undergo a process known as electron-positron annihilation (“Electron-Positron Annihilation”). The process of electron-positron annihilation results in both particles producing photons. The production of photons introduces an interesting variable when defining the existence of mass: photons, which are also classified as bosons, can experience superposition (Strassler). However, the production of non-matter particles on its own does not disprove the existence of mass.
5. If there is a universe with only one Boson, that Boson would be an object since it does not share all its properties with another object. But, in the same universe with two bosons, bosons are not objects anymore.
I feel personally that the discovery of the atom was an important discovery for the world. With the discovery we are now able to answer questions we never even thought to ask. We are also answering questions some people asked long ago. We can now use our vast knowledge of the atom to measure the stars and be able to tell you what the stars are made of. The atomic discovery also helped us find our periodic table of elements. The periodic table of elements is a huge scientific chart that shows important facts with the help of its formation. There was a lot of constant scientific research that went into making the periodic table of elements and what it is today.
During the seventeenth century, the modern science of physics started to emerge and become a widespread tool used around the world. Many prominent people contributed to the build up of this fascinating field and managed to generally define it as the science of matter and energy and their interactions. However, as we know, physics is much more than that. It explains the world around us in every form imaginable. The study of physics is a fundamental science that helps the advancing knowledge of the natural world, technology and aids in the other sciences and in our economy. Without the field of physics, the world today would be a complete mystery, everything would be different because of the significance physics has on our life as individuals and as a society.