What Is The World Made Of? Fire Air Water Earth ... From Plato to Lederman or... What Is Particle Physics All About?
An Integrated, Interdisciplinary Unit On Particle Physics Particle Physics is one of the last frontiers in the study of the natural world
at the micro level. In finding the ultimate building block of matter, it is
believed, one can understand the beginnings of the universe. Sub-atomic
particles cannot be studied easily or inexpensively. Large, powerful, and
costly accelerators are required with much of their funding from government
sources. Also, the benefits for the general public are not readily visible.
Particle physics may represent one of the last areas of research which is
done with no apparent goal in mind. In spite of these drawbacks, the research since looking for the unknown can be a more powerful motivator than searching for the known.
at the micro level. In finding the ultimate building block of matter, it is
believed, one can understand the beginnings of the universe. Sub-atomic
particles cannot be studied easily or inexpensively. Large, powerful, and
costly accelerators are required with much of their funding from government
sources. Also, the benefits for the general public are not readily visible.
Particle physics may represent one of the last areas of research which is
done with no apparent goal in mind. In spite of these drawbacks, the research since looking for the unknown can be a more powerful motivator than searching for the known.