英语学习点: Physics Vocabulary物理词汇

A discovery in the last week has turned physics on its head.

A team of scientists have said that they recorded subatomic particles called neutrinos travelling faster than light. No-one thought that was possible.

It is a finding that could overturn one of Einstein's long-acceptedfundamental laws of the Universe.

The finding was made by researchers at Cern in Switzerland and Gran Sasso in Italy.

The speed of light is a cornerstone in Einstein's theory of special relativity, which is what gives us the concept of causality: causes precede effects.

Among the implications of this challenge to mainstream theory is the fact that it could mean time travel is possible, a hypothesis that has long convinced writers of science fiction.

But the experiment has its sceptics. A physicist from the University of Surrey, Jim Al-Khalili, believes that the current consensus is correct and that the light-speed barrier is impossible to surpass.

He has tried to pick holes in the methodology of the Cern researchers. So sure is Al-Khalili that they have made an error in their measurements that he has decided to defend the laws of physics by challenging the laws of social convention.

Al-Khalili said: "If the Cern experiment proves to be correct... I will eat my boxer shorts on live TV."

• vocabulary [və´kæbjuləri, vəu-]   n.词汇；词汇量   (初中英语单词)
• fundamental [,fʌndə´mentl]   a.基本的 n.原理   (初中英语单词)
• concept [´kɔnsept]   n.概念；观念；思想   (初中英语单词)
• challenge [´tʃælindʒ]   n.&vt.向....挑战；怀疑   (初中英语单词)
• finding [´faindiŋ]   n.发现物；判断；结果   (高中英语单词)
• switzerland [´switsələnd]   n.瑞士   (高中英语单词)
• precede [pri´si:d]   v.领先；先于   (高中英语单词)
• barrier [´bæriə]   n.栅栏；屏障；障碍   (高中英语单词)
• decided [di´saidid]   a.明显的；决定的   (高中英语单词)
• overturn [,əuvə´tə:n]   v.打翻；颠覆   (英语四级单词)