What is Dark matter and dark energy
What is Dark Matter...?
Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that is thought to make up approximately 27% of the universe's total mass and energy. Unlike ordinary matter, which consists of atoms and molecules and interacts with light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation, dark matter does not emit, absorb, or reflect light. It is thus invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects on visible matter, radiation, and the large-scale structure of the universe.
What is Dark Energy...?
Dark energy is a mysterious form of energy that is believed to make up approximately 68% of the universe. Unlike dark matter, which exerts gravitational attraction and helps in the formation of galaxies and galaxy clusters, dark energy behaves differently. It is associated with empty space and is thought to be the driving force behind the accelerated expansion of the universe.
Difference between Dark matter and Dark energy...?
Dark matter and dark energy are two mysterious and distinct components of the universe, and although they share the term "dark," they have different roles and properties:
Dark Matter:
Nature: Dark matter is believed to be composed of as-yet-undetected subatomic particles. These particles do not interact with light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation, making them invisible and detectable only through their gravitational effects.
Gravitational Interaction: Dark matter has mass and therefore exerts gravitational attraction. It interacts with visible matter (like stars and galaxies) through gravity, contributing to the formation and structure of galaxies and galaxy clusters.
Role: Dark matter provides the gravitational "glue" that holds galaxies and galaxy clusters together. Without dark matter, galaxies would not have enough mass to account for their observed gravitational effects, such as the rotation curves of galaxies.
Detection: Although dark matter has not been directly detected, scientists are actively searching for it using various experiments, including those conducted in underground laboratories and in space.
Dark Energy:
Nature: Dark energy is a form of energy that is thought to permeate all of space uniformly. It has negative pressure and is associated with empty space, causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate.
Expansive Effect: Unlike gravity, which attracts matter and slows down the expansion of the universe over time, dark energy works in opposition to gravity, driving the accelerated expansion of the universe.
Role: Dark energy is responsible for the observed accelerated expansion of the universe. It is a mysterious force that counteracts the gravitational attraction between matter and helps galaxies move away from each other at an accelerating rate.
Detection: Dark energy has not been directly detected either. Its existence and properties are inferred from observations of the large-scale structure of the universe, cosmic microwave background radiation, and supernova data.
In summary, dark matter is a form of matter that exerts gravitational effects and makes up a significant portion of the total mass in the universe, while dark energy is a mysterious force driving the accelerated expansion of the universe. Both phenomena are still not fully understood and remain active areas of research in the field of cosmology.
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