microscopic & MACROSCOPIC

Is studying about the atom (the smallest) necessary to understand the Universe (the biggest)?

Yes. Because in the beginning, the Universe itself was atomic.

Particle physics theories were too utopian, not possible by the experimental physicists to verify through experimental evidence. Like a detective left without the cooperation of police, particle physicists were deserted. Hence they came up with the idea to check out their theories by trying to help Cosmologists (physicists involved in the field of cosmology). Now cosmology is the study of “how the (poor) Universe came into being”-cosmologists are historians of universe (and archaeologists of black holes). One of the world famous cosmologists of our times is Stephen Hawking. And these cosmologists were struck with trying to figure out what happened during the very very  first few moments of the birth of the universe. They had developed a theory called “Big Bang” (sounds stylish right) ; which explained that in the beginning the Universe was just atomic in size-a highly dense and tiny dot. So in the first few moments the Universe was like an atom, and this is where the particle physicists saw their golden opportunity, they thought; ‘if the Universe was just like an atom in the beginning, then us, the particle physicists, the official people who study about atoms and sub atomic particles, should be able to explain those first moments”.So particle physicists formed a partnership with cosmologists.

Now we are capable of explaining , how the universe grew, from after 10^-35sec of it’s birth to; look at your watch. From 10^-12sec onward is backed up by experimental evidence. But, how did it all begin?

Enough for today.

written by-Group 3, MSc in Physics Education 2018, University of Colombo
image courtesy-dreamstime.com