There is no such thing as empty space in an atom. True?

magnusrobot12

Another question that bothers me. We are taught that the atom is mostly empty space and I understand Bohr's atom and the concept of quantum. No problem. However, there is a movement in physics that states the "empty space" is not really empty, that it contains plank strings with information. Is this true? Can anyone help me with this idea? Thank you in advance.

Agent M27

Well the Bohr model is correct only in that electrons have energy states, but not in the circular orbital sense. It is now understood to represnt a "cloud" of electrons. I have never heard of plank strings before, but I am just beginning in atomic structure. I hope some one else can shed more information on this.

Joe

dacruick

are these plank strings matter?

magnusrobot12

I do not think the plank strings have mass or else the atom would have infinite mass i suppose. the point is that we are taught that there is 99.9999999999% empty space in an atom because of the quantum orbitals that electron travels. There is a new thought that the space is not empty at all, that it contain strings the size of plank length. And there are a hell of a lot of strings. These strings may carry information but i do not even know what the hell that means either. The atom is probably empty after all.

Dmitry67

The concept of "empty space" is quite complicated.

2 important examples:

1. If we consider empty space 'empty', then between 2 Casimir plates space is even emptier!
Check Casimir effect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect

2. If space is empty for me, it can be not empty for you (for another observer). Different observers can disagree on the fact that space is empty or not, and on the number of the partricles they observe!
Check Unruh effect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unruh_effect