If elementary particles all end up being point particles, does that mean that the universe is entirely vacuum?

Question

While I'm at it, are all known elementary particles point particles?

More importantly, how the hell do we know they're point particles? How do you expect to tell a point particle from a really really small particle? How can point particles even contain information to interact with the world with?

For the first answerer: In science, a vacuum means either absolutely nothing, or really close to absolutely nothing, and then it is qualified as not being a perfect vacuum. You seem to be describing an ether, a theory which was discredited a very long time ago. As for the book of Genesis, I am a Roman Catholic and I believe in the Bible, but the Bible does not address the concept of vacuums.

And additionally, theology is not the only information we have on the nature of the universe, depending on your definition of "nature." Two other fields, philosophy and science, also provide information about the nature of the universe.

Answer 1

In my Fractal Foam Model of Universes, the most fundamental particles in our universe consist of s-waves orbiting one another at some finite distance—probably less than 10^-20 meter. The s-waves within particles probably have wavelengths much smaller than that. The Planck length (10^-35 meter) is a lower limit on the size of s-waves in our universe. Our ether is the cosmic foam of a sub-universe, containing whole galaxies with radii 10^60 times smaller than the comparable galaxies in our universe. Those galaxies are made of sub-universe atoms and quarks 10^60 times smaller than our atoms and quarks. Sub-universe atoms and quarks are made of s-waves in the sub-universe’s ether, which is made of galaxies, atoms and quarks in a sub-sub-universe. The sequence of universes is infinite, both large and small. So everything consists of waves in a medium of waves, in a medium of waves, ad infinitum. There is no point particle. No finite space is completely full or completely empty.

Answer 2

As far as I'm aware, there are _no_ elementary particles which are truly point particles (in the sense that they have only location and have zero extent). A point is a geometrical abstraction that is (in some cases) approximated by real physical particles. Any time a body is "sufficiently distant" from all other interacting bodies, compared to its own diameter, then you can treat the body as a "point", which often makes the math easier.

For example, the traditional simple analysis of the motions of molecules in a gas, treats the molecules as point particles. This is justified on the basis that the average distance between molecules in a gas is much greater than the molecules' size. This analysis yields results identical to the ideal gas law. On the other hand, when analyzing the behavior of molecules in a liquid, you can't treat them as point particles, because in that case their extent and shape play significant roles in their interaction because they're so close together.

Even something as big as a star is treated as a "point particle" for some kinds of analysis (such as its gravitational interaction with other very distant stars).

Answer 3

Edit;
I Really did not quite fathom what the question implied by point particle and meaning of a point particle. I think Particules must have volume. Hence they must be an entity in order to exist. So a point mass is only a construct that Newton formulated in his theory of gravitational force.Therefore a particle cannot exist just a s a point.it must be an entity with a volume containing mass..
Hence any thing that is massless cannot exist and move as a mass structure..
your implications about the meaning ofpoint particles appears to be a very inovative idea which should be an eye opener in the world of Physics..

Answer 4

Problem, borned on some level is not resolvable at the same level.(Einstein?). As I understand, we don't know, there are some point particles, we BELIVE, that we can explain with a straight line a round line of circle. Between the smallest "material" particle and point particle is realy whole eternity. All "visible" (and directly understandable) "material" reality is only one indivisible part of the "GOD's creation". Materia can't be devided from space. Idea is, that "Space egg"-is homogene structure. Appearance ("condensation") of the materia causes "vacuumization" of the relative structures, which becomes material space arround particle of materia just changing there own propertys It should be wrong to understand organisation of point particles,like organisation of moleculas in cristal network, because there HAVEN'T material dimensions.There are "rests" of material creation and from there "eternity"only support existance of vacuum surrounding created materia. The most of all: I am sure, that it is impossible enter this problem with fear to meet the GOD.

Answer 5

An undemanding particle has no standard aspects or inner shape. So confident, it is extremely ordinary to coach that the common universe isn't an undemanding particle. detect 2 distinctive gadgets.

Answer 6

string comes in to avoid 1-point contact by point particle interaction thus can eliminate divergence in Quntaum field theory. You can imaging matter whatever you want just a matter of convenience.