Matter/energy in 'empty' space

[Tsunami]

I read somewhere the dictum that 'nothing can be done without at least a material base' ; the way the term matter was employed in this text implied that vacuum, 'empty' space, was to be viewed as matter-less.

This would mean that in empty space, nothing at all can be done. This leads to an important question:

Can empty space be made into matter/energy? And vice versa?

In other words, can something occur like :

A + vacuum -> B + C , where the matter/energy of B and C does not equate with that of A.


The vice versa is even more important: is there a way in which matter/energy 'deteriorates' and becomes something like empty space? Thanks.

 

[FunkyDwarf]

thats a weird statement that I've never heard and certainly you don't get something for nothing as per laws of dynamics, but on a tangent there is something called zero point energy. This is basically the idea that even a vacuum has a sort of ground state energy, and if you believe stargate science you can use it via a little yellow thing :)

 

[sir-pinski]

The concept of matter and energy in empty space is a complex and highly debated topic in the field of physics. While it is true that empty space is often viewed as "matter-less", this does not necessarily mean that nothing can be done in that space. In fact, empty space is not truly empty at all, but is filled with various particles and fields that constantly interact and fluctuate.

One theory that addresses the relationship between matter and empty space is the concept of vacuum energy. This theory suggests that even in the absence of any matter, there is still energy present in the vacuum of space. This energy is thought to be responsible for the expansion of the universe and plays a crucial role in quantum mechanics.

As for the question of whether empty space can be turned into matter/energy and vice versa, the answer is not a simple yes or no. In certain conditions, matter and energy can be created from empty space through various processes such as particle-antiparticle pair production. On the other hand, matter and energy can also be converted into empty space through processes such as annihilation.

It is important to note that these processes are not as straightforward as the equation you have proposed. The conversion of matter/energy into empty space and vice versa involves complex interactions between particles and fields, and cannot simply be described as a one-to-one transformation.

In conclusion, the concept of matter and energy in empty space is a fascinating and ongoing topic of research in physics. While empty space may seem like a void, it is actually filled with a vast amount of energy and plays a crucial role in the functioning of our universe. The relationship between matter and empty space is a complex one and requires further study and understanding.