EMPTY SPACE

Intergalactic space is, by all Earth standards, an excellent vacuum, full of nothingness. The best vacuum pumps on Terra cannot produce a vacuum equal to that of outer space, except with the most elaborate preparations. Consider the vacuum that exists between Earth and Mars. It is estimated that there are fewer than one molecule per cubic rod. That is surely a small quantity! From a macroscopic viewpoint space is a lot of nothingness.

But from the atomic, microscopic point of view, intergalactic space is full of stuff. It is loaded with Electrons and Protons, etc. An exact count can be obtained from your friendly neighberhood Physicist.

That is all at once space full of nothingness and space full of stuff, depending on your point of view. It's got more vacuum in it than the best heads on this planet, and still it is glutted with these particles. The only time when the matter in space will have to be taken into consideration is when one is spacetravelling. Then it might get in the way. Of course, the density of the stuff in this vacuum depends on where you are. Out between Alpha Centauri and Pluto, the density may be different. But in some places there is a load of it. Lots.

That is what true space is made of, a lot of emptiness all full of stuff.

-- whl

Data entry by Judy Bemis
Hard copy provided by Geri Sullivan

Data entry by Judy Bemis

Updated October 1, 2002. If you have a comment about these web pages please send a note to the Fanac Webmaster. Thank you.