FYI: What Would Happen If You Got Zapped By The Large Hadron Collider?
Thursday, October 3, 2013 - 11:30
in Physics & Chemistry
Hadron Collider Courtesy Cern The scientists at the LHC would like to make two things very clear. First, it's just a horrible idea to put any part of your body in front of the collider's two proton beams. Each beam comprises 320 trillion particles, so the total energy delivered is a blazing 362 megajoules, enough to melt about half a ton of copper. Second, it would be really hard to get in front of a beam, even for someone with a death wish. "If you tried to open any of the access doors to get into the LHC—even though the lights are flashing et cetera—the collider automatically turns off," says Steven Goldfarb, a physicist at the LHC in Switzerland. That said, let's assume you did manage to squeeze your face inside...