What is Dark Matter? | Just Curious

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of dark matter, exploring its nature, theories, and implications in astrophysics. Participants express curiosity about dark matter and seek to understand its characteristics and the theories surrounding it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the definition and nature of dark matter, expressing a desire for clarity.
  • One participant suggests that dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter whose effects are observed through gravitational influence, particularly in relation to the radial velocity of galaxies.
  • There is mention of different theoretical candidates for dark matter, such as WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) and MACHOs (Massive Compact Halo Objects), with some participants noting that the viability of these candidates is debated.
  • A participant references the Wikipedia page on dark matter as a resource for further information.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express curiosity and seek information, but there is no consensus on the nature or characteristics of dark matter, and multiple theories are presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various assumptions about dark matter's properties and the viability of different theoretical models, which remain unresolved.

Cbray
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Just curious to know what dark matter is.
Thanks!
 
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Cbray said:
Just curious to know what dark matter is.
Thanks!

answer that and you get the Nobel Prize
 
Can you give me some theories?
Thanks :)
 
Thanks,
sorry, just trying to shove as much physics in my head as possible ;)
 
Is dark matter thought to be particulate? I thought it wasn't for some reason but reading about WIMPs suggests it is.
 
Cbray said:
Just curious to know what dark matter is.
Thanks!

A hypothetical form of matter whose influence we observe due to gravity.It's theorized to account for the unusual,constant radial velocity of galaxies (elliptical ones) which are significantly higher than our expected values in a region beyond the visible galactic disc.
They're broken down into WIMPS and MACHOS(many disregard these since there isn't enough baryonic matter to consider the 23% of matter,least viable).


-ibysaiyan
 

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