How much energy is contained in a cubic centimeter of pure vacuum?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the energy contained in a cubic centimeter of pure vacuum, specifically examining a claim about its potential to condense into a large mass of matter. The scope includes theoretical considerations and challenges to the validity of the initial statement.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the claim that a cubic centimeter of vacuum can condense into 10^80 to 10^120 grams of matter, suggesting it is not true.
  • Another participant corrects the notation of the powers of ten in the initial claim, clarifying the intended values.
  • A different participant provides an estimate of approximately 6e-16 joules of energy in a cubic centimeter of vacuum, arguing that this is insufficient to create a significant amount of matter, far less than a gram.
  • One participant expresses the opinion that extracting energy from vacuum is impossible, as vacuum is posited to have the lowest possible energy level, though not zero.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to agree on the validity of the initial claim regarding the energy content of vacuum, with multiple competing views presented. The discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the assumptions made about vacuum energy and the definitions of energy extraction, which are not fully explored in the discussion.

Rebel
I was reading through energy devices and i want to know if this statement is true.

"Today we know that one cubic centimeter of pure vacuum contains enough energy to condense into 1080 – 10120 grams of matter!"
 
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the 10 is to the 80th
the other 10 is to the 120th power
 
Just an opinion...
To obtain energy from vacuum you have to lower the energy of the vacuum, which is impossible because the vacuum has the lowest possible energy...even if it is not 0...
So ?
 
No. See this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=19082 . There are probably about 6e-16 joules in a cubic centimeter of vacuum -- enough in a cubic meter to create maybe 3-4 atoms or so. Nowhere near a single gram, by around a factor of ~10^23
 

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