The rest mass of Higgs boson is estimated to be close to
- A.0.5 MeV
- B.900 MeV
- C.100 GeV
- D.1000 GeV
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, 100 GeV. The Higgs boson found at CERN in 2012 has a mass of about 125 GeV, which among the given options is closest to 100 GeV.
The Higgs boson is the particle of the Higgs field, which, in the Standard Model of particle physics, gives elementary particles such as the W and Z bosons, quarks and electrons their mass. Peter Higgs and others proposed it in 1964. The ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider near Geneva announced its discovery on 4 July 2012, and Peter Higgs and François Englert received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013. It is sometimes loosely called the 'God particle'. Its measured mass is about 125 GeV, roughly 133 times the mass of a proton.
A is wrong: 0.5 MeV is close to the rest mass of an electron (0.511 MeV).
B is wrong: about 938 MeV is the rest mass of a proton.
D is wrong: 1000 GeV is eight times the measured Higgs mass.
Exam tip: Higgs boson ≈ 125 GeV, discovered at CERN's LHC, 4 July 2012; Nobel 2013 to Higgs and Englert.
Practice Questions
View allConsider the following animals :
1. Hedgehog
2. Marmot
3. Pangolin
To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protect its/their vulnerable parts?
- A.1 and 2
- B.2 only
- C.3 only
- D.1 and 3
Show answer
Hedgehogs and pangolins curl into a tight ball when threatened, covering the soft belly and face with spines or scales; marmots do not.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?
- A.Congress grass
- B.Elephant grass
- C.Lemongrass
- D.Nut grass
Show answer
Lemongrass and its close relative citronella grass yield aromatic oils that keep mosquitoes away, so they are the base of many natural repellents.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following devices is non-ohmic ?
- A.Conducting copper coil
- B.Electric heating coil
- C.Semi conductor diode
- D.Rheostat
Show answer
A diode does not obey Ohm's law: the current through it is not proportional to the voltage across it. An ohmic conductor gives a straight-line graph of current against voltage, so its resistance stays constant at a fixed temperature.
Read the full explanation →What is the formula mass of anhydrous sodium carbonate? (Given that the atomic masses of sodium, carbon and oxygen are 23 u, 12 u and 16 u respectively)
- A.286 u
- B.106 u
- C.83 u
- D.53 u
Show answer
Anhydrous sodium carbonate is Na₂CO₃, and 2 × 23 + 12 + 3 × 16 = 106 u. Formula mass is the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in one formula unit of an ionic compound.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following minerals is used as a fuel in nuclear power stations ?
- A.Bauxite
- B.Quartz
- C.Feldspar
- D.Pitchblende
Show answer
Pitchblende, or uraninite, is the chief ore of uranium, the fuel used in most nuclear power stations. Pitchblende is a heavy, black mineral made mostly of uranium oxide.
Read the full explanation →