Grand Unified Theory (GUT)
from class:
College Physics I – Introduction
Definition
Grand Unified Theory (GUT) aims to unify the three fundamental forces of the Standard Model: electromagnetic, weak, and strong nuclear forces. It proposes that these forces were once a single force in the early universe.
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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- GUTs predict that at high energy levels, the electromagnetic, weak, and strong nuclear forces merge into a single force.
- One of the primary motivations for GUTs is to explain why protons do not decay.
- Most GUT models include predictions about proton decay, although it has not been observed experimentally.
- The unification scale for GUTs is typically around $10^{16}$ GeV.
- GUTs do not include gravity; incorporating gravity requires a theory of everything (TOE), such as string theory.
Review Questions
- What are the three fundamental forces that Grand Unified Theories aim to unify?
- At what approximate energy level do GUTs propose that these forces merge?
- Why have Grand Unified Theories not yet been confirmed experimentally?
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