Students begin by exploring the hierarchy of matter, from atoms to the fundamental particles that cannot be divided further. They investigate the four fundamental forces of nature, learn how quarks combine to form hadrons, examine the lepton family, and develop an understanding of the Standard Model as the framework that describes the known elementary particles and their interactions.
Students investigate the structure of atomic nuclei and the factors that determine their stability. They learn about isotopes, mass defect, binding energy, and Einstein's mass-energy equivalence, developing an understanding of why energy is released during nuclear reactions and how these concepts explain the stability of different nuclei.
Students examine how elementary particles interact and transform while obeying conservation laws. They study particle decays, collisions, antimatter, and the operation of particle accelerators, learning how physicists investigate matter at the smallest scales and discover new particles.
Students explore the major nuclear processes responsible for the release of enormous amounts of energy. They investigate radioactive decay, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, and stellar nucleosynthesis, learning how these reactions power stars, generate electricity, and produce the elements found throughout the universe.
Students conclude the course by exploring the frontiers of modern physics. They investigate the bosons that mediate the fundamental forces, examine the limitations of the Standard Model, connect particle physics with cosmology and the evolution of the universe, and explore the many technological applications and future directions of particle physics research.