As in, there can be no such thing as a lack of matter in a volume.
So the interplanetary and intergalactic "space" is not devoid of matter entirely, it is just in low enough density to be called a vacuum?
2006-09-21 19:00:01 · 8 answers · asked by managuense 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Absolutely. Inside the Solar System you'll find a hydrogen atom (or something) every few cm. in any direction.
When you hit intersteller space that drops to an atom of 'something' (usually hydrogen) every few meters.
In intergalactic space that goes up to maybe a couple hundred meters.
That's close enough for me ☺
Doug
2006-09-21 19:06:16 · answer #1 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Right... Technically... But outer space, especially intergalactic space, still has less density of matter than the best vacuum in a vacuum chamber on Earth. The fact that the vacuum isn't prefect doesn't stop us from calling them vacuum chambers instead of low pressure chambers or something like that. I think people are getting too technical with all this talk about space not being a vacuum. For all practical and reasonable earthly purposes, it IS a vacuum.
2006-09-22 09:54:56 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hoover or Electrlux are vacuums. Or the planet Earth. They all suck.
Sorry. Dealing with war and politics carries over.
Space is not devoid of matter(see Pluto still counts) and is NOT a 'perfect' vacuum. However the atmosphere between planets(and Pluto) is fairly scarce... and most people would identify space as a vacuum.
Your second sentence is not supported by the first which is correct. The third and fourth would be correct.
Yes I know refering to 'space' as having an atmosphere is incorrect but was trying to make a point!
2006-09-22 02:07:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quite true. I forget who the quote is from [some French monk or somthing], but "Nature abhors a vacuum".
But, it's empty one might say cause there's nothing there. When most people say nothing, they mean no matter. However, thanks to the genius and insight of Einstein, we know matter and energy are equivalent. So, even though there may be a chunk of space with no matter in it, there is energy in it. This means it isn't really completely empty after all.
As far as matter goes, it is estimated to be 1 hydrogen atom per cubic centimeter of "space". But, because of the background radiation from the Big bang, the energy causes it to become more dense in certain reagions, as dense as "1000 atoms/cm3 and as small as 0.1 atom/cm3 have been found."
Then there are the theories of dark matter and dark energy, but I really don't want to go there. I'm afraid of the dark.
Cheers.
2006-09-22 02:33:46 · answer #4 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Space is not a vacuum. It is a low pressure system. A vacuum has absolutely nothing in it. The force of a vacuum is inflationary and faster than the speed of light. A vacuum destroys itself as it attempts to destroy matter introduced to it. Matter and a vacuum cannot coexist.
2006-09-22 09:53:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Correct
2006-09-22 08:45:02 · answer #6 · answered by bprice215 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you're correct
estimates are for about 1 atom (of Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe) per cubic centimeter (about 16 atoms per cubic inch)
this can vary quite a bit, from just 0.1 atom in the least dense regions of space, to up to 1'000 atoms in the densest.
By comparison, a cubic centimeter of solid matter will have a number of atoms of the order of magnitude of Avogadro's number, i.e. 6E23 atoms.
2006-09-22 05:18:18 · answer #7 · answered by AntoineBachmann 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Correct..
2006-09-22 02:14:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋