If you want to get a good answer you should make the right question.
That question is taught from the beginning of our high school curriculum (Spain). I hope my students by now can answer it: 'Matter is everything that has mass and volume'. It looks like an easy question and a really easy answer. Well, after these two weeks, I am not sure about it anymore. What is 'having mass'? Some time ago a student wanted another explanation and now I realised I could not give them a proper answer.
Now may I introduce you Dr. Claire Lee (women CAN science and pretty well actually!) who tried to explain us the STANDAR MODEL and how CERN has discovered what 'gives mass to matter'. She was awesome and our first lecturer. What a brilliant start! The fantastic Jeff Wiener is also in the picture with her.
Now let's imagine that you are a 10th grade student, your teacher might have told you that matter is made of atoms (I said that). And atoms are made of smaller particles: electrons (with negative charge), protons (with positive charge), and neutrons (with no charge). Right again. But only few of you know (at that level) that protons and neutrons are made of other particles (and forces or interactions) and here it is where the Standar Model comes to life.
According to wikipedia (sic!) the Standard Model of particle physics is the theory describing three of the four known fundamental forces (the electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions, and not including the gravitational force) in the universe, as well as classifying all known elementary particles. It was developed in stages throughout the latter half of the 20th century, through the work of many scientists around the world, with the current formulation being finalized in the mid-1970s upon experimental confirmation of the existence of quarks. Since then, confirmation of the top quark (1995), the tau neutrino (2000), and the Higgs boson (2012) have added further credence to the Standard Model. In addition, the Standard Model has predicted various properties of weak neutral currents and the W and Z bosons with great accuracy.
By the way, I will make a complete entry for our friend, the Higgs boson, which is 'what gives mass to the rest of particles'. Sorry if you are a physicist and you are reading this. I am trying to explain everything so even my grandmother could get it.
Although the Standard Model is believed to be theoretically self-consistent it leaves some phenomena unexplained and falls short of being a complete theory of fundamental interactions. It does not fully explain baryon asymmetry, incorporate the full theory of gravitation as described by general relativity, or account for the accelerating expansion of the Universe as possibly described by dark energy. The model does not contain any viable dark matter particle that possesses all of the required properties deduced from observational cosmology. It also does not incorporate neutrino oscillations and their non-zero masses.
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I am the typical teacher that spend the whole year talking about the scientific method and facts. CERN is the ultimate physics lab and they are very clear about following it. I am boring, I know it, but it is the only way to create critical thinkers in a world full of foolishness ('anti-vaccines and flat-Earthers'). Dear student, CERN is not science fiction, it is as real as you and me and the applications of that research are too (and this is my favourite part).
But before starting, let me ask you something: What is matter?
That question is taught from the beginning of our high school curriculum (Spain). I hope my students by now can answer it: 'Matter is everything that has mass and volume'. It looks like an easy question and a really easy answer. Well, after these two weeks, I am not sure about it anymore. What is 'having mass'? Some time ago a student wanted another explanation and now I realised I could not give them a proper answer.
Now may I introduce you Dr. Claire Lee (women CAN science and pretty well actually!) who tried to explain us the STANDAR MODEL and how CERN has discovered what 'gives mass to matter'. She was awesome and our first lecturer. What a brilliant start! The fantastic Jeff Wiener is also in the picture with her.
Now let's imagine that you are a 10th grade student, your teacher might have told you that matter is made of atoms (I said that). And atoms are made of smaller particles: electrons (with negative charge), protons (with positive charge), and neutrons (with no charge). Right again. But only few of you know (at that level) that protons and neutrons are made of other particles (and forces or interactions) and here it is where the Standar Model comes to life.
According to wikipedia (sic!) the Standard Model of particle physics is the theory describing three of the four known fundamental forces (the electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions, and not including the gravitational force) in the universe, as well as classifying all known elementary particles. It was developed in stages throughout the latter half of the 20th century, through the work of many scientists around the world, with the current formulation being finalized in the mid-1970s upon experimental confirmation of the existence of quarks. Since then, confirmation of the top quark (1995), the tau neutrino (2000), and the Higgs boson (2012) have added further credence to the Standard Model. In addition, the Standard Model has predicted various properties of weak neutral currents and the W and Z bosons with great accuracy.
By the way, I will make a complete entry for our friend, the Higgs boson, which is 'what gives mass to the rest of particles'. Sorry if you are a physicist and you are reading this. I am trying to explain everything so even my grandmother could get it.
Although the Standard Model is believed to be theoretically self-consistent it leaves some phenomena unexplained and falls short of being a complete theory of fundamental interactions. It does not fully explain baryon asymmetry, incorporate the full theory of gravitation as described by general relativity, or account for the accelerating expansion of the Universe as possibly described by dark energy. The model does not contain any viable dark matter particle that possesses all of the required properties deduced from observational cosmology. It also does not incorporate neutrino oscillations and their non-zero masses.
What does this mean? It means that everything IS NOT DISCOVERED!!!!!! The model is missing something. And what about gravity? And what about antimatter? Nobel prizes are waiting for you all as soon as you finish your PhD and make a real contribution to humanity.
Now seriously, we actually know 5% of the universe, and the 95% of it is ready for us to unveil it!
So far this is what we got (now what? do you still think you know math!?, keep studying!):
And this is a way we have to resume it:
Of course I will explain it in another entry, with a mug of coffee and the permission of Jeff. So make sure that you have understand this before we continue. Any questions or comments are always welcome. Meanwhile, science b*tches!
PS: Here you could find the presentation of Dr.Lee if you want to check it out!
Si quieres una buena
respuesta, asegúrate de hacer la pregunta correcta.
Soy la típica profesora que se pasa todo el año hablando del
método científico y de lo que llamamos hechos probados. CERN es el laboratorio
de física definitivo y allí se sigue el método científico inequívocamente. Soy
un rollo, lo se, pero es la única manera de crear gente con pensamiento crítico
en este mundo lleno de estupidez (anti vacunas y los que creen que la Tierra es
plana). Querido estudiante, el CERN no es ciencia ficción, es tan real como tú
y como yo y las aplicaciones de esa investigación lo son también (y es mi parte
favorita, por cierto).
Pero antes de empezar, déjame preguntarte algo: ¿Qué es materia?
Esta pregunta se enseña desde el principio en el instituto (en España). Espero
que mis alumnos a estas alturas puedan responder: “Materia es todo aquello que
tiene masa y volumen”. Parece una pregunta fácil y una respuesta aún más
sencilla. Bueno, pues después de estas dos semanas en CERN ya no estoy tan
segura de que sean sencillas. ¿Qué es “tener masa”? Hace tiempo un alumno me
preguntó por una definición alternativa y ahora me doy cuenta que no le di una
explicación adecuada.
Ahora, déjenme presentarles a la doctora Claire Lee (sí, las mujeres somos científicas y muy
buenas, por cierto!) que intentó explicarnos el Modelo Estándar y cómo el CERN
descubrió lo que “da masa a la materia”. Ella es fantástica y nuestra primera
ponente. ¡Vaya comienzo alucinante!
Ahora imagina que estás en 4º de la E.S.O., tu profesora te ha
dicho que la materia está hecha de átomos (eso lo digo yo). Y los átomos están
hechos de partículas más pequeñas: electrones (con carga eléctrica negativa), protones
(con carga eléctrica positiva) y neutrones (eléctricamente neutros). Correcto
de nuevo. Sólo alguno de vosotros sabe (a este nivel y con esos años) que los
protones y los neutrones están formados por otras partículas (y fuerzas o
interacciones) y aquí es dónde el Modelo Estándar comienza a coger forma.
De acuerdo con wikipedia (¡perdón!) el Modelo Estándar de física
de partículas es la teoría que describe tres de las cuatro fuerzas
fundamentales conocidas (la electromagnética, la débil y la fuerte, sin incluir
la fuerza gravitatoria, que tendrá su apartado correspondiente más adelante) en
el universo, así como la clasificación de las partículas elementales. Fue
desarrollada por partes a lo largo de la segunda mitad del siglo XX, gracias al
trabajo de muchos científicos de todo el mundo, con la fórmula correspondiente
acabada en los 70 junto con la confirmación experimental de la existencia de
los quarks. Desde entonces, la confirmación del top quark (1995), el tau
neutrino (2000), y el bosón de Higgs (2012) han añadido credibilidad a la
teoría. Además el Modelo Estándar ha predicho varias propiedades de las
corrientes débiles y neutras y los bosones W y Z con gran precisión.
Por cierto, leeréis una entrada completa dedicada a nuestro amigo,
el bosón de Higgs, que es “lo que le da masa al resto de las partículas”. Pido
perdón si eres físico y estás leyendo esta simplificación al absurdo. Estoy
intentando explicar esto de manera que se entere hasta mi abuela.
Aunque el Modelo Estándar se considera teóricamente consistente, deja algunos fenómenos sin explicar y se queda corto en cuestión de relacionar las interacciones fundamentales. No explica completamente la asimetría de los bariones, no incorpora la teoría de la gravitación como viene descrita en la teoría de la relatividad general y no tiene en cuenta la aceleración de la expansión del universo descrita teniendo en cuenta la energía oscura. El modelo no contiene ninguna partícula de materia oscura viable que posea todas las características que se deducen de la observación cosmológica. Tampoco incorpora las oscilaciones de los neutrinos y sus masas distintas de cero.
¿Qué significa esto? Significa que ¡NO TODO ESTÁ DESCUBIERTO! Al modelo le falta algo. ¿Y qué pasa con la gravedad? ¿Y la antimateria? El premio Nobel está esperándote, sí tú, tan pronto como acabes la carrera y el doctorado, y consigas hacer una contribución real a la humanidad.
No, ahora en serio, sólo conocemos (y regulan) el 5% del universe, el otro 95% está ahí esperando a que alguien lo desenmarañe.
Resumiendo, ¿qué es o que tenemos? pues esta fórmula (¿qué? ¿todavía piensas que sabes muchas mates?, ya puedes seguir estudiando, anda...):
Pero normalmente la vais a ver resumida así:
Por supuesto explicaré en otra entrada esta fórmula, con una taza de café y el permiso de Jeff. Así que asegúrate, querido alumno de entender esto antes de continuar. Recuerda que cualquier pregunta o comentario es más que bienvenido. Mientras tanto, ¡a estudiar ciencia c*brones!
PD: En este enlace puedes encontrar la presentación de la doctora Lee si le quieres echar un ojo.
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