Essay 1: the LHC and the Higgs

Posted on 2012/09/19 by kiwinerd

Homework Assignment 1 (5%)

This is the first of three written assignments in Fall semester.

Due date: Wed 03 Oct 2012 by 2:10pm

N.B.: The following description may seem a bit long at first, but don’t panic! I deliberately designed it a bit like a FAQ, so that it would be straightforward for you to figure out what I expect. Just take a deep breath, read the instructions carefully all the way through to the bottom, and then ask me if you have any remaining questions. :-)

Topic: the LHC and the Higgs

  1. What is the LHC, and why would anyone care? (50%)
  2. What is the Higgs boson? Discuss its recent discovery. (40%)
  3. What do particle physicists hope to see at the LHC in future? (10%)

Note: before you start, you may wish read my Essay Grading Rubric.  Here’s the executive summary: essentially, I grade for two things: (1) physics accuracy, and (2) how well you explain things (pedagogy).

Useful Resources

Your primary source of information for our course is my Notes, which I make available here on this web site. Our required textbook is also likely to be useful in writing your essay. (The index of Greene’s book shows where to find relevant pages.) Another good book is Dan Falk’s book “Universe on a T-shirt”, which should be on short-term reserve in Gerstein science library.

Reputable, understandable sources of online information about the LHC include:

See also

  • LHC panoramas (may help with visualization; by a pro photographer)

Please note: Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable source/reference (for this or any essay in this course). Why? (a) Its accuracy on modern physics is dubious, because bona fide experts in theoretical physics are FAR less common online than unqualified cowboys who think they can do theoretical physics; and (b) the level of technicality is often mismatched to what we need in this course. You may of course use Wikipedia as a mechanism of finding reputable sources.

If you are in doubt about the legitimacy of a source, please ask your friendly professor by email. That is what I am here for. :-)

Page Setup

Your assignment must be two to two-and-a-half pages in length, including references.

Make sure that your assignment is typed, no more densely than single spaced, on US letter-size (8.5 x 11 inch) paper, with one to one-and-a-half inch margins, in a plain font (e.g. Verdana) of size 12pt (twelve points) or larger, in black colour.

Please use the APA system of formatting references.

Note: do not use a separate title page. This is a waste of paper. Just write your student name and number in the header (or top line) of page 1 of your essay.

Style

Stylistically, please write this essay conversationally – as if you are verbally explaining this stuff to your favourite artsy cousin who knows little or nothing about science. Use the first person and the active voice.

Handing In

Essays must be handed in before the deadline in both of the following two ways, for the safety of students (and instructor):

(1) an electronic version, with your name and student number on it, sent to the prof by e-mail from your official UofT email account;

(2) a printed version, with your name, student number and signature on it, handed in to the prof personally at the beginning of class. This must be stapled together properly or it cannot be accepted.

At least one of the two versions must be handed in before the deadline – preferably the electronic version.

Document Format

The electronic document formats I accept are: rich text format (.rtf), Portable Document Format (.pdf), plain text (.txt), LaTeX (.tex).

For security reasons, I recommend against Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) as a file format, but will grudgingly accept it. LibreOffice is a great alternative to Word for editing .rtf files; it works on Mac Windows and Linux and costs $0.

Academic Integrity

Compliance with all UofT academic integrity guidelines is, of course, compulsory. For clarification of what is expected of UofT students, please carefully study the handouts on Academic Integrity (the Writing handouts will also be useful). For example, do remember to properly quote and reference all sources you use, but don’t cut-and-paste content from the internet. Please read How Not To Plagiarize.

I will run essays through the University’s TurnItIn.com system for detecting cheating in essays. All this does is checks whether you have lifted paragraphs or phrases straight from common sources without referencing properly. If you don’t cheat, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. If you would prefer not to participate with Turnitin, you must provide alternative evidence that your essay is your own work. You must discuss this with me in person; I require at least two rough drafts along with the finished essay.

You are also required by UofT regulations to print, fill in, and sign the Essay Checklist. This is compulsory.

Advice

Procrastination is silly. Start early – don’t leave it till the night before. :-)

If you have any questions or concerns about doing this assignment, any questions at all (including computer related questions), please contact your friendly professor for advice. I am here to help you – so please take full advantage!

This entry was posted in Essays. Bookmark the permalink.