Prelims › Past Papers
Q96·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2014

Higgs boson particle discovery significance

S&TPhysics - Particle PhysicsStatement-basedHardCurrent-affairs-linked

Question

The efforts to detect the existence of Higgs boson particle have become frequent news in the recent past. What is/are the importance/importances of discovering this particle?

1It will enable us to understand as to why elementary particles have mass.
2It will enable us in the near future to develop the technology of transferring matter from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them.
3It will enable us to create better fuels for nuclear fission.
  1. 1.

    It will enable us to understand as to why elementary particles have mass.

  2. 2.

    It will enable us in the near future to develop the technology of transferring matter from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them.

  3. 3.

    It will enable us to create better fuels for nuclear fission.

Options

a

1 only

Answer
b

2 and 3 only

c

1 and 3 only

d

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Higgs boson is crucial for understanding why elementary particles acquire mass through interaction with the Higgs field. This was a major gap in the Standard Model of particle physics. Statement 2 is incorrect: Discovery of the Higgs boson has no connection to quantum teleportation or matter transfer across space. This is speculative science fiction and not supported by particle physics theory. Statement 3 is incorrect: The Higgs boson discovery does not provide insights for improving nuclear fission fuels, as it relates to fundamental particle physics rather than nuclear engineering. Only Statement 1 represents a genuine scientific importance of Higgs boson discovery. > Higgs Boson Significance: The Higgs boson explains the origin of mass in elementary particles through the Higgs mechanism, filling a critical gap in the Standard Model of particle physics. Answer: (a).

Question details

Year

2014

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q96

Subject

Science & Technology

Sub-topic

Physics - Particle Physics

Type

Statement-based

Difficulty

Hard

Nature

Current-affairs-linked

Source hint

Current Affairs 2012-2013 - Physics

See all questions on Physics - Particle Physics

Browse every tagged question across all years

Explore →