K1NS wrote:In the photo, M81's "bright yellow core" looks like a large yellow star, like our sun, but of course it is actually lots of individual objects (stars), with lots of "empty" space between the objects.
But isn't our sun actually lots of individual objects (neutrons, protons, etc.) with lots of "empty" space between the objects? Isn't this true of all matter (with the exceptions of neutron stars, black holes, and the universe at t=0)?
As an untrained ponderer of cosmology, one of my biggest personal revelations has been the notion that solid objects are, in fact, an illusion. The table this laptop rests on is mostly empty space, as is the laptop, and the only thing that prevents the laptop from passing through the table are the nuclear forces. I have tried to explain this to friends and family, but I do not have the vocabulary to express the idea adequately.
I believe that looking at this photo truly expresses the idea of "solid" matter as "empty" space, and helps us to understand it.
You explained it adequately for me... And there are many illusions in the Universe. The Universe IS ENERGY!!! So are the particles...built up, combinations of energies....
As for the Atom...even though it is said that 90 percent of the atom is space...how much space is that actually????? About 0.3 nanometers in diameter...we are not talking a very large amount of space for all that 90 percent. Atoms also conglomerate or bond into a bigger chunk. The Molecule, (Yes, CHRIS, I know Even the Hydrogen atom is still a molecule). Water, H2O is not an atom, but combined atoms. So a bigger block. This becomes molecular BLOCKS. Fibers. Long strands, etc...the DENSITY increases and the Mass of the material increases. You cannot put your hand through the desk...but a lake full of water, you can swim in, though way more MASSIVE that you are. Different state of matter, but still massive, still negative charge around the atoms, repelling your atoms. But now it is not really atoms, or molecular blocks....but THE CELL! US!!! We are CELLS! And large combinations of cells at different layers, that give us mass and density. The cell against the FIBERS of the wood in the table...That is another reason why, AT THE LARGE SCALE, your hand won't go through the table. Or your laptop. The FIBERS, and CRYSTALLINE Structures ARE JUST TOO BIG!!!!
If I take two strong magnets, and put the north poles at each other it is hard to put them together, but it can be done. But you can't put your hand through the desk...if it were JUST THE NUCLEAR FORCE, OR ELECTRO-MAGNETIC FORCE... you should AT LEAST be able to MOVE THOSE ATOMS OUT OF THE WAY!!!! BUT THAT IS NOT IT....at least, that is not
ONLY... it... It is the BONDING INTO LARGER, DENSER MATERIALS...and the real reason...my opinion...is the DENSITY OF THE MATERIAL.
My observation...
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