Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A strength test for the strong force
Symmetry Magazine ^ | 10 Mar, 2017 | Sarah Charley

Posted on 03/12/2017 6:55:15 PM PDT by MtnClimber

A joint Fermilab/SLAC publication

New research could tell us about particle interactions in the early universe and even hint at new physics.

Much of the matter in the universe is made up of tiny particles called quarks. Normally it’s impossible to see a quark on its own because they are always bound tightly together in groups. Quarks only separate in extreme conditions, such as immediately after the Big Bang or in the center of stars or during high-energy particle collisions generated in particle colliders.

Scientists at Louisiana Tech University are working on a study of quarks and the force that binds them by analyzing data from the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. Their measurements could tell us more about the conditions of the early universe and could even hint at new, undiscovered principles of physics.

The particles that stick quarks together are aptly named “gluons.” Gluons carry the strong force, one of four fundamental forces in the universe that govern how particles interact and behave. The strong force binds quarks into particles such as protons, neutrons and atomic nuclei.

As its name suggests, the strong force is the strongest—it’s 100 times stronger than the electromagnetic force (which binds electrons into atoms), 10,000 times stronger than the weak force (which governs radioactive decay), and a hundred million million million million million million (10^39) times stronger than gravity (which attracts you to the Earth and the Earth to the sun).

But this ratio shifts when the particles are pumped full of energy. Just as real glue loses its stickiness when overheated, the strong force carried by gluons becomes weaker at higher energies.

(Excerpt) Read more at symmetrymagazine.org ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: quarks

1 posted on 03/12/2017 6:55:15 PM PDT by MtnClimber
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

I think there is more we don’t know about these forces than what we do know.


2 posted on 03/12/2017 6:56:35 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

“it’s 100 times stronger than the electromagnetic force (which binds electrons into atoms)”

Tells me all I need to know about this article... Electromagnetic force is not what does the binding. It’s electrostatic force, which BTW, is much stronger than electromagnetic force.


3 posted on 03/12/2017 7:06:58 PM PDT by babygene (Make America Great Again)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

I’m waiting for the weakness test for the weak force.


4 posted on 03/12/2017 7:10:14 PM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Will the strong force turn out to actually be a 97 pound weakling in disguise ? Picture goes here :


5 posted on 03/12/2017 7:14:16 PM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicans are not born, they're excreted." -- Marcus Tillius Cicero)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: faithhopecharity

“You don’t know the power of the force!”


6 posted on 03/12/2017 7:27:21 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DannyTN

Weak force

Strong force

Air force

Da force


7 posted on 03/12/2017 7:35:31 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: babygene

Please don’t write stuff like this.


8 posted on 03/12/2017 8:46:13 PM PDT by FredZarguna (And what Rough Beast, its hour come 'round at last, slouches toward Fifth Avenue to be born?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson