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mklaben15
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Is space actually a vacuum or it is so large that any matter is negligible?
Now, Dave, be fair. It's a lot more like asking 'can you consider a cargo container empty if there are a couple of grains of sand in it and you ignore them?'DaveC426913 said:I think you're asking if the 'observable universe' is essentially a vacuum. Asking if the universe is a vacuum because it's so empty is like asking 'Can a box of tennis balls be considered empty if you ignore all the tennis balls in it?'
Damn, I think you just came up with a solution to the paradox of the heap ... well, kinda, anyway.phinds said:It's a lot more like asking 'can you consider a cargo container empty if there are a couple of grains of sand in it and you ignore them?'
Yes, space is considered a vacuum because it has a very low density of particles. In fact, it is estimated that there are only about 5 atoms per cubic meter in interstellar space.
This is because gravity and other forces in space pull particles towards each other, causing them to clump together and form larger objects like planets and stars. This leaves the rest of space relatively empty.
Yes, there is still some matter present in outer space, but it is very spread out. This matter includes gas, dust, and even the occasional comet or asteroid.
No, sound cannot travel through a vacuum because it requires a medium, such as air or water, to travel through. Since there is no medium in space, sound cannot be transmitted.
Yes, the vacuum of space has a temperature, but it is not a constant temperature. It can vary greatly depending on where you are in space and if there is any nearby radiation or particles. On average, the temperature of space is about 2.7 Kelvin (-270.45 degrees Celsius).