What caused space to be?

[Nyela]

Originally Posted by Mabus

What could possible have caused space to be? Was space there before matter came into the picture? Does space have an ending point or ending part that causes the vacuum?

This is an interesting question. For me, my response is two fold.
If looking at space as a location...as a place to aspire to congregate as humans and claim our stake there...then space has an ending as does most tangible things. ( tangible in the sense of being able to give physical characteristics to it.)
If looking at space as an inanimate body of existence in the atmosphere per se...then NO. Space does not have an end. Whether we cease to exist or not according to what we perceive existence to be, space will be a main stay. It is an essential part of 'WHAT IS'. Nothing can exist aside from it.

Fascinating...never really thought about it before...

[Ukali]

Originally Posted by elishadp

Wow, I am sooo not a ponderer.

I do hope you will become a ponderer... these are the people who have pulled humanity forward. Their inquiries, investigations, and insights are the core reasons for everything We consider "modern."

Originally Posted by elishadp

Never gave it any thought, don't think I will

That's unfortunate... you might be doing yourself (and the rest of us) a grave disservice. You (your thinking) might well be the spark of the next great breakthrough in human progress.

Originally Posted by elishadp

why can't things just be.

Things will be... regardless of what We do or don't do. That's the way it is.

Yet We human beings are compelled by our very nature to explore, examine, and explain the Universe that surrounds us. We can't help ourselves, in this regard.

We came into being for this exact purpose.

It is our duty, then, to encourage our children (and one another) to ponder the makeup of things; to play with the workings of Nature; and to prepare a better place for our species to dwell and thrive.

[Khalliqa]

No such thing as the absence of matter...



Salaam...
Khalliqa

[Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Khalliqa

No such thing as the absence of matter...



Salaam...
Khalliqa

There probably is but its just unobservable. If someone figures out a way to prove it, they could put quantum theorists out of work.

[elishadp]

Originally Posted by Ukali

I do hope you will become a ponderer... these are the people who have pulled humanity forward. Their inquiries, investigations, and insights are the core reasons for everything We consider "modern."
That's unfortunate... you might be doing yourself (and the rest of us) a grave disservice. You (your thinking) might well be the spark of the next great breakthrough in human progress.

Things will be... regardless of what We do or don't do. That's the way it is.

Yet We human beings are compelled by our very nature to explore, examine, and explain the Universe that surrounds us. We can't help ourselves, in this regard.

We came into being for this exact purpose.

It is our duty, then, to encourage our children (and one another) to ponder the makeup of things; to play with the workings of Nature; and to prepare a better place for our species to dwell and thrive.

I just prefer to ponder things a little more tangible, concrete if you will. I made through philosophy, but I hated every minute. But I do enjoy reading everyone's thoughts.

[Ukali]

Originally Posted by Khalliqa

No such thing as the absence of matter...

My, what an interesting comment!

I Googled "absence of matter" and the first hit led to this Encarta Article:


Vacuum, defined strictly, space that has all matter removed from it. It is impossible to create a perfect vacuum in the laboratory; no matter how advanced a vacuum system is, some molecules are always present in the vacuum area. Even remote regions of outer space have a small amount of gas. A vacuum can also be described as a region of space where the pressure is less than the normal atmospheric pressure of 760 mm (29.9 in) of mercury.

To create a vacuum, matter is removed by pumping air out of the vacuum chamber (see Vacuum Technology). As air is removed, fewer air molecules are present that can push on the vacuum chamber walls, so the pressure within the vacuum chamber is reduced. In scientific laboratories, vacuum chambers must be very strong, because when the pressure is very low within the vacuum chamber, the atmospheric pressure outside can crush the apparatus. Scientists can create vacuums that have a pressure as low as 10-14 mm of mercury. Even at this very low pressure, in 1 cc (0.64 cu in) of gas there are still thousands of molecules. At normal atmospheric pressure, however, there are about 1023 molecules in 1 cc of air.

Vacuums have many practical uses. A vacuum cleaner creates a vacuum within the body of the machine. Atmospheric pressure pushes air through the vacuum hose and into the body of the machine; dirt and other material is brought in with the air. As another example, a light bulb has a vacuum inside to prevent air molecules from reacting with the hot filament and burning the filament out. Also, since a vacuum provides excellent insulation against heat flow, thermos bottles have a vacuum between their inner and outer walls.

[Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Ukali

My, what an interesting comment!

I Googled "absence of matter" and the first hit led to this Encarta Article:


Vacuum, defined strictly, space that has all matter removed from it. It is impossible to create a perfect vacuum in the laboratory; no matter how advanced a vacuum system is, some molecules are always present in the vacuum area. Even remote regions of outer space have a small amount of gas. A vacuum can also be described as a region of space where the pressure is less than the normal atmospheric pressure of 760 mm (29.9 in) of mercury.

To create a vacuum, matter is removed by pumping air out of the vacuum chamber (see Vacuum Technology). As air is removed, fewer air molecules are present that can push on the vacuum chamber walls, so the pressure within the vacuum chamber is reduced. In scientific laboratories, vacuum chambers must be very strong, because when the pressure is very low within the vacuum chamber, the atmospheric pressure outside can crush the apparatus. Scientists can create vacuums that have a pressure as low as 10-14 mm of mercury. Even at this very low pressure, in 1 cc (0.64 cu in) of gas there are still thousands of molecules. At normal atmospheric pressure, however, there are about 1023 molecules in 1 cc of air.

Vacuums have many practical uses. A vacuum cleaner creates a vacuum within the body of the machine. Atmospheric pressure pushes air through the vacuum hose and into the body of the machine; dirt and other material is brought in with the air. As another example, a light bulb has a vacuum inside to prevent air molecules from reacting with the hot filament and burning the filament out. Also, since a vacuum provides excellent insulation against heat flow, thermos bottles have a vacuum between their inner and outer walls.

The poster was most likely referring to perfect vacuums.

[Big Trap]

What is a perfect vacuum?

[Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Big Trap

What is a perfect vacuum?

A region of space with absolutely no matter. The observable universe isn't even perfect, but it is an almost perfect vacuum. Also, its one that picks up little pieces of paper on the first pass.

[Ukali]

Originally Posted by Gorilla

...its one that picks up little pieces of paper on the first pass.

Now, that was funny!