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  • In this activity, students gain understanding of the role the Large Hadron Collider is playing in exploring the current models for the structure of matter1. It is a video clip and science article analysis activity.

    Particle2 physicist Dr David Krofcheck of the University of Auckland is featured in the video clips where he describes the relationship between Big Bang3 theory4 and experiments being conducted at the Large Hadron Collider5.

    Rights: The University of Waikato

    What is the Big Bang theory?

    Dr David Krofcheck is a particle physicist who believes that the Big Bang is how matter came about.

    The science articles provide information that underpins the video clips.

    By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

    • explain the main features of the Big Bang theory
    • discuss the role the LHC is playing in particle physics research
    • describe the structure of the nucleus6
    • describe how elements7 are formed deep within stars.

    Universal element formation

    Elements are formed deep within the cores of certain types of star. Find out more in this interactive.

    Download the Word file (see link below) for:

    • introduction/background notes
    • what you need
    • what to do
    • student worksheet.
    1. matter: The basic structural component of all things that have mass and volume.
    2. particle: A tiny piece of matter. A particle may refer to an atom, part of an atom, a molecule or an ion.
    3. Big Bang: This theory describes that the universe originated approximately 14 billion years ago from a violent explosion of a very small concentration of matter of extremely high density and temperature.
    4. theory: To scientists, a theory provides a coherent explanation that holds true for a large number of facts and observations about the natural world. It has to be internally consistent, based upon evidence, tested against a wide range of phenomena and demonstrate problem solving.
    5. Large Hadron Collider (LHC): A gigantic scientific instrument 27 km in diameter, constructed 100 m underground near Geneva, on the border between Switzerland and France. It is a particle accelerator used by physicists to study the smallest known particles – the fundamental building blocks of all things.
    6. nucleus: 1. The very small, very dense, positively charged centre of an atom containing protons and neutrons. 2. Part of the cell that contains the cell’s hereditary information (DNA) and controls the cell’s processes.
    7. element: A substance made of atoms that all have the same atomic number. Elements cannot be split into simpler substances using normal chemical methods.
    Published 9 December 2011, Updated 8 May 2014 Referencing Hub articles
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        matter

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      2. The basic structural component of all things that have mass and volume.

        theory

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      4. To scientists, a theory provides a coherent explanation that holds true for a large number of facts and observations about the natural world. It has to be internally consistent, based upon evidence, tested against a wide range of phenomena and demonstrate problem solving.

        element

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      6. A substance made of atoms that all have the same atomic number. Elements cannot be split into simpler substances using normal chemical methods.

        particle

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      8. A tiny piece of matter. A particle may refer to an atom, part of an atom, a molecule or an ion.

        Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

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      10. A gigantic scientific instrument 27 km in diameter, constructed 100 m underground near Geneva, on the border between Switzerland and France. It is a particle accelerator used by physicists to study the smallest known particles – the fundamental building blocks of all things.

        Big Bang

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      12. This theory describes that the universe originated approximately 14 billion years ago from a violent explosion of a very small concentration of matter of extremely high density and temperature.

        nucleus

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      14. 1. The very small, very dense, positively charged centre of an atom containing protons and neutrons.

        2. Part of the cell that contains the cell’s hereditary information (DNA) and controls the cell’s processes.