Would a Universe be considered part of the standard model?

In summary, the Standard Model is a model of particle physics that explains the fundamental particles and their interactions. It is relatively well-understood, but additional research is necessary to understand how the universe might be different if the strength of various interactions were different.
  • #1
NWH
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From my basic understanding of the standard model it tries to identify the different kinds of particles, understand their functions and their subsequent sub atomic particles. But as particles and forces break down into smaller components, do they also build up into bigger components? For example; just like a particle is built up of a mixture of sub atomic particles, is our universe is built up of a mixture of forces? Can we look at the universe and its forces in the same way we look at a particle? As in if we changed the mixture of forces can we predict the outcome and say that a different selection of possible universe potentially exists out there?
 
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  • #2
I don't understand what you mean with "mixture of forces".
Without gravity, and if the SM is complete, it would (at least in theory) allow to predict the time-evolution of the whole universe.
 
  • #3
NWH said:
From my basic understanding of the standard model it tries to identify the different kinds of particles, understand their functions and their subsequent sub atomic particles. But as particles and forces break down into smaller components, do they also build up into bigger components? For example; just like a particle is built up of a mixture of sub atomic particles, is our universe is built up of a mixture of forces? Can we look at the universe and its forces in the same way we look at a particle? As in if we changed the mixture of forces can we predict the outcome and say that a different selection of possible universe potentially exists out there?

Yeah, I'm with mfb in not having a clue what you are talking about on "mixture of forces"

As for particles, your terminology shows clearly that you would do well to spend some time studying the standard model. You talk about particles having "sub-atomic particles" but ALL of the particles in the Standard Model ARE subatomic particles and the reason they are part of the standard model is that they DO NOT HAVE sub-particles. If they had sub-particles, then THOSE particles would be what is shown in the standard model.
 
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  • #4
Not sure what you mean about forces, but standard model was designed to show most fundamental particles know to us at this moment. When proton, neutron, and electron were discovered, they were thought of as the most fundamental particles. But now we know there are quarks and leptons and force carriers. At this time standard model shows the smallest substance you can physically find when you break down a substance.
 
  • #5
NWH said:
From my basic understanding of the standard model it tries to identify the different kinds of particles, understand their functions and their subsequent sub atomic particles. But as particles and forces break down into smaller components, do they also build up into bigger components? For example; just like a particle is built up of a mixture of sub atomic particles, is our universe is built up of a mixture of forces? Can we look at the universe and its forces in the same way we look at a particle? As in if we changed the mixture of forces can we predict the outcome and say that a different selection of possible universe potentially exists out there?

First, we can understand our universe on large scales fairly well using the Standard Model and general relativity. At the present, gravity is the most important factor in describing large scale structure, while electromagnetism and the strong and weak interaction are important when you investigate the properties of the universe at very early times. To a very large extent, this is due to the fact that the strong and weak interactions are short-range interactions, so when we look at large scales, they can only have a very small effect, which we can usually ignore. Electromagnetism is a long-range interaction, but since stars and galaxies are generally electrically neutral, the electromagnetic interactions between them are also negligible, so we're left with gravity.

Now, your question about changing the mixture of forces is a question that can be studied. We could ask how the universe might be different if the relative strengths of the SM interactions were different. For example, if the electromagnetic interaction was very weak, then atoms and molecules would not be as strongly bound and it might be hard to make complex organic molecules like DNA. The notion that there might be other "universes" where the laws of physics are different from our own is associated with a line of research called the "multiverse." That wikipedia article seems to give a balanced overview of the ideas, along with a discussion of some very reasonable criticism of the more esoteric versions of the multiverse framework.
 

1. Is the Universe considered part of the standard model?

The Universe is not explicitly included in the standard model of particle physics. However, the standard model does provide the framework for understanding the fundamental building blocks of the Universe and their interactions.

2. What is the standard model of particle physics?

The standard model is a theory that describes the fundamental particles and forces of nature. It is our best current understanding of how the basic building blocks of matter interact with each other.

3. Can the standard model fully explain the Universe?

No, the standard model is not a complete theory of the Universe. It does not account for dark matter, dark energy, or gravity. These are still open questions in physics and are actively being studied.

4. Are there any limitations to the standard model?

Yes, there are limitations to the standard model. It cannot explain certain phenomena, such as the existence of neutrino masses, and it does not incorporate gravity. This is why scientists are constantly working to develop new theories and models that can address these limitations.

5. How is the standard model tested and validated?

The standard model has been extensively tested and validated through experiments and observations. These include particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider, and astrophysical observations. Any new theories or models must be able to explain and fit within the framework of the standard model in order to be considered valid.

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