A MASTERCLASS IN PARTICLE PHYSICS: HNC VISITS UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
24.04.2025HNC’s A Level Physics students have recently enjoyed a masterclass in particle physics at the University of Manchester, where they took part in university level lectures and workshops to discover more about how Physicists implement the theories learnt in the classroom to better understand our universe.
Students studying A Level Physics explore a wide range of concepts and theories, including particle physics. In this specially designed degree level stretch and challenge session, students from the College’s Physics department took part in a number of enlightening sessions, building on the knowledge developed in the classroom and exploring the topic of particle physics in greater depth. On the day, the group enjoyed two lectures where they discovered more about how the Physicists at CERN – the European Organisation for Nuclear Research – are using particle accelerators to better understand the universe, and explored the concept of neutrino physics, discovering more about one of the universe’s fundamental particles.
The afternoon saw the group take part in a number of hands-on activities, from a workshop where students were tasked with analysing real-world particle physics data, to a live-link talk with CERN Physicists, and a chance to ask questions about the fascinating role the organisation plays in helping us to understand our known universe. The group also had the opportunity to explore the University’s campus, including a tour of the labs tasked with building components for CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.
Chris Smith, Head of Faculty Maths and Science (Enrich), comments “A Level Physics is a genuinely enlightening subject that supports students to better understand the rules of our universe. In this fascinating visit to the University of Manchester, we discovered more about one of the A Level’s key topics, particle physics, and how the physics community is using the theories we learn in the classroom to better understand our universe. Our students were lucky enough to speak directly with some of the world’s most inspiring Physicists at CERN, and the knowledge that they have learnt from this experience will no doubt support them to continue to develop their knowledge and enthusiasm for Physics”.
You can view a gallery of images from the day below.
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