What are particle accelerators?

Particle accelerators are machines that scientists build to speed particles up and steer them to detectors. Sometimes the machines are built quite big to make the particles go really fast. A device like your microwave oven is used to help speed them up. It is called a Radio Frequency cavity. Large magnets are used to help direct the particles to where you want them. There is a very large laboratory with several accelerators in the United States near Chicago called Fermilab. You can find out more about detectors.

Accelerators