Large Hadron Collider and the Quest for Scientific Discovery

CERN, established in 1954, is a major research complex known for its particle accelerators. The Large Hadron Collider, opened in 2008, is the world's largest accelerator, designed to explore conditions post-Big Bang. It accelerates particles to near light speed, causing collisions that release gamma rays, which are detected to study unproven phenomena. Superconducting magnets, crucial for operation, require cooling with liquid helium. Early operational issues included a faulty connection causing a helium leak, taking over a year to repair.

What year was CERN established?

• 1984

• 1954

• 1964

• 1974

What is the circumference of the Large Hadron Collider?

• 100 kilometers

• 50 kilometers

• 27 kilometers

• 10 kilometers

What particles are accelerated in the LHC to near light speed?

• Neutrinos and muons

• Electrons and positrons

• Protons and neutrons

• Quarks and leptons

What is used to cool the superconducting magnets in the LHC?

• Liquid hydrogen

• Liquid oxygen

• Liquid helium

• Liquid nitrogen

What was the result of the faulty electrical connection in the LHC?

• A power surge

• A helium leak

• A magnet failure

• A data loss