coz they say matter is anything that occupies space and has mass. how about a vacuum?
2006-11-27 17:05:01 · 9 answers · asked by angels_breathe15 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
You asked a very good question. The fact is that vacuum or "empty space" is NOT empty at all. Scientists have recently confirmed that vaccum contains "energy" and the energy density has been measured to be on the order of 10^-29 grams per cubic cm or 10^-47 GeV^4.
Since we all know that mass and energy are equivalent through Einstein's Special Relativity, so we can certainly say that vacuum contains some form of "matter".
BTW, it has also been confirmed that the majority of our Universe's mass/energy density is due to the mass/energy density of the vacuum. As a matter of fact, vacuum is rsponsible for 73% of it. This vacuum energy is also called "Dark Energy".
2006-11-27 17:47:18 · answer #1 · answered by PhysicsDude 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
A vacuum is a volume of space that is essentially empty of matter, so that gaseous pressure is much less than standard atmospheric pressure. The root of the word vacuum is the Latin adjective vacuus which means "empty," but space can never be perfectly empty. A perfect vacuum with a gaseous pressure of absolute zero is a philosophical concept with no physical reality, not least because quantum theory predicts that no volume of space is perfectly empty in this way. Physicists often use the term "vacuum" slightly differently. They discuss ideal test results that would occur in a perfect vacuum, which they simply call "vacuum" or "free space" in this context, and use the term partial vacuum to refer to the imperfect vacua realized in practice.
The quality of a vacuum is measured by how closely it approaches a perfect vacuum. The residual gas pressure is the primary indicator of quality, and it is most commonly measured in units of torr, even in metric contexts. Lower pressures indicate higher quality, although other variables must also be taken into account. Quantum mechanics sets limits on the best possible quality of vacuum. Outer space is a natural high quality vacuum, mostly of much higher quality than what can be created artificially with current technology. Low quality artificial vacuums have been used for suction for millennia.
2006-11-27 17:16:47 · answer #2 · answered by rooney 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A vacuum (not in the sense of the cleaning apparatus or a thermos, but rather in the 'empty / void' sense) is not matter.
By your own definition, matter has mass and occupies space...both things a vacuum does not. A vacuum (in the ideal sense) has not mass, is made of no particles, takes up no space, is totally empty. A vacuum is not matter.
2006-11-27 17:28:30 · answer #3 · answered by mrjeffy321 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi Angel,
Vacuum is a symbol / word which represents "No Matter" or "Nothing" in the given space.
It represents Non existence of Mass in the given space. Also, it does not satisfy other norm to be a matter & ie. mass.
Hope this helps you out
2006-11-27 17:23:02 · answer #4 · answered by aniruddha 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
your question is more of a grammar misunderstanding than a science one. space is a vacuum (for these purposes) space is not occupied by a vacuum.
2006-11-27 18:12:58 · answer #5 · answered by karl k 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They aren't talking about a vacuum cleaner. The vauum itself isn't the object.
2006-11-27 17:17:04 · answer #6 · answered by Psychedelico 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a vacuum is devoid of all matter. it contains nothing.
a vacuum is empty space
2006-11-27 17:08:50 · answer #7 · answered by sexydude 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hoover or Electrolux?
2006-11-27 17:13:36 · answer #8 · answered by Gaspode 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no. Vaccum by definiion means that it does not contain matter.
2006-11-27 17:11:16 · answer #9 · answered by Guardian Angel 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋