Question: why is the lhc so large?
Answer: The LHC can get to higher energies because it collides protons, not electrons and positrons. Protons are about 1800 times heavier than electrons and positrons. ... So if the mass is 1800 times bigger, the energy lost on the bends is (1800 x 1800 x 1800 x 1800) or about 11 trillion times smaller.