Reflections

With the Large Hadron Collider experiments hitting the headlines, Physics is again back to the center stage. The experiment is to throw more light into the fundamental principles of the universe. After a long gap, I have started recollecting my fundamental Physics lessons, and let me try to gather some of my learning here. It may make an interesting reading to people who wish to know what’s happening around.

There are four fundamental forces in this universe (what do you mean by “this universe”? Of course, Physics does not rule out the possiblities of other universes in existence). They are:

1. Strong force - responsible for holding together the protons and neutrons in a nuclues
2. Weak force - manifested in radio active decays
3. Electromagnetic force- familiar to us as light, magnetism
4. Gravitational force-most familiar one

Scientists are hoping to find a single theory which explains all the four forces together. But till date only the first three are joined together in a theory called Standard Model; gravity is still elusive. Standard Model has been a very successful theory with most of its predictions are verified by experiments. One prediction yet to be verified is the presence of a particle called “Higg’s Boson”. The LHC experiments are expected to discover the presence of Higgs Boson.

I have also prepared a MindMap on particles. See it here