Teacher’s Questions for Higgs boson feature

By Science News Explores

SCIENCE

Before reading:

  1. What is a particle? Have you ever heard of one type known as the Higgs boson? If so, describe what you know about it.

During reading:

  1. Where was the Higgs boson found? How did scientists find it?

  2. Why is the Higgs boson so difficult to find?

  3. What does the Higgs boson do?

  4. Describe what the universe would be like without the Higgs boson.

  5. What happens to particles moving through the Higgs field?

  6. How do scientists study the Higgs field?

  7. What is the purpose of the supercooled magnets placed along the pipe that the proton beams speed through at CERN?

  8. How fast are these protons traveling?

  9. How frequently is a Higgs boson created?

  10. Why did two separate teams — instead of one big team — search for the Higgs boson?

After reading:

1. It’s a big deal that scientists finally found the last remaining particle, the Higgs boson, in the standard model. Explain why that is.

SOCIAL STUDIES

  1. CERN and studies conducted there can be expensive.

  2. Do you think it’s important for society to study supersmall things?

  3. Can you think of other supersmall things that make a big impact (hint: think about medicine)?