Big Bang Experiment Trivia Quiz

Answer: The creation of the Universe

'The Big Bang theory' is a model used by physicists to explain the creation of the Universe. According to this theory, the Universe was created billions of years ago in a big bang. In early times the Universe was thus very hot and dense, and LHC experiments can re-create these conditions on a small scale. The Big Bang theory was proposed by a Catholic priest named Lemaitre.

Answer: CERN

The Big Bang experiment is being conducted by the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, which is located in Geneva. Interestingly the birth of the World Wide Web is said to have happened at CERN.

Answer: Large Hadron Collider

LHC stands for the Large Hadron Collider. This is a particle accelerator built by CERN for the Big Bang experiment. The collider is meant to be used to make hadrons or protons collide with each other. This collision is meant to recreate the conditions that happened after the original Big Bang. This is to enable scientists to understand more about the creation of the world.

Answer: Higgs boson particle

The Higgs boson particle is named after two scientists - Peter Higgs and Satyendranath Bose. This particle is often referred to in everyday use as the 'God particle'. Scientists believe that the Big Bang created the Higgs boson particle, which in turn led to further events leading to the creation of the Universe.

Answer: True

The Large Hadron Collider comprises a ring of particle accelerators, in the form of a particle accelerator complex. The particle accelerator will have a beam of particles travelling in a loop. There will be two beams of hadrons, protons or lead ions, travelling in opposite directions. The two will be made to travel at a high energy to collide head on.

Answer: Underground

The LHC experiment is being carried out around 100m underground. This is to ensure safety in case of any adverse results. The LHC is placed in a looped tunnel that is 27 kilometres long.

Answer: Creation of black holes

Some people expressed concerns over the safety of the Big Bang experiment. Their concern was that the experiment could create mini black holes that could suck the earth out of existence. Doomsday scenarios were predicted by some who said that the existence of the Earth was at stake.

However CERN and a majority of scientists have expressed confidence that considering the low energy levels of the experiment, there were no chances of any damages or disaster occurring because of any mini black holes. And further, the experiment was being carried out underground, so CERN was confident that damage, if any, would be only to the equipment.

Answer: He felt the experiment was a colossal waste of money

Noted scientist Stephen Hawking was of the opinion that the LDC experiment was vital to humanity and the results would benefit humanity. He also was sure that the doomsday scenarios predicted by opponents of the experiment would not come true. But he predicted that the experiment would not produce the 'God particle' or Higgs-Boson particle.

In fact, he has reportedly bet a hundred dollars that the God particle would not be discovered in the experiment. Hawking however has not called the experiment a colossal waste of money.

Answer: Both of these countries

The LHC tunnel is located under the earth and spans two countries Switzerland and France. A major part of the LHC complex is located in France.

Answer: No

Dan Brown's novel 'Angels and Demons', (which is a prequel to the acclaimed 'Da Vinci Code') uses the Big Bang experiment as part of its plot. The novel starts in the LHC complex, with an assumption that CERN has been able to produce anti-matter, which can be used as a bomb.

The novel's central theme is a canister containing anti-matter which if exposed to matter would cause a massive explosion. CERN however has on its website, made it clear that it is not possible to produce enough anti-matter to cause such an explosion. CERN has clarified that to make one gram of anti-matter (which could cause an explosion), it would take at least two billion years.