Does Matter Truly Occupy Space or is it Merely Energy in a Certain State?

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of matter and its relationship to mass and space. It is suggested that the term "matter" may be unhelpful in scientific thinking and that mass is a better defined quantity. The idea of fundamental particles as point particles with no volume is also mentioned. It is proposed that matter is simply energy in a certain state.
  • #1
big_bounce
102
3
Hello all .
I have a little problem hope you will solution it .

Suppose there is a box that inside it is vacuum and Suppose box is massless .
Consider we import one million photons in the box
Now box has mass equal to m=E/c^2 and E is total energy of photons .
In this case , inside box should not occupy space because photons do not occupy space .
I know this example is not very good for particles but much same .

So i think just matter can occupy space because it has many properties and one of them is mass . right or wrong ?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
Matter is ill defined. Mass is well defined. If you want to think about things scientifically, I would forget the word "matter". Its not going to help.

Mass is that which has the unit of kilogram, or equivalent. Fundamental particles are considered to be point particles. That means they occupy no volume.

Volume is not a property of fundamental particles. You only get a volume when you have many particles together and can roughly enclose an area with them. Or you might be able to get a volume out of one particle by considering the average space it resides in. This can get complex...
 
  • #3
Closer to the truth, its even better to think of matter as nothing substantial, unsolid, it is merely energy manifesting itself in a certain state.
 

FAQ: Does Matter Truly Occupy Space or is it Merely Energy in a Certain State?

What is the definition of mass?

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. It is a fundamental property of matter and is typically measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g).

How is mass different from weight?

While mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, weight is a measure of the force of gravity acting on an object. Mass is constant, but weight can vary depending on the strength of the gravitational pull.

Can mass and matter be created or destroyed?

The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed into different forms. This means that the total mass of a closed system remains constant over time.

What is the relationship between mass and volume?

Mass and volume are directly proportional to each other. This means that as the mass of an object increases, so does its volume. However, the relationship may differ depending on the density of the object.

Why does matter occupy space?

Matter occupies space because it is made up of particles, such as atoms and molecules, that have physical size and shape. These particles are constantly in motion and take up space, resulting in the physical presence of matter.

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