Which characteristic is shared by both dark matter and baryonic matter?
A. They both have been directly observed by scientists
B. They both interact with each other
C. They are capable of absorbing light
D. They both have gravity
D. They both have gravity
The correct answer is D. They both have gravity.
To determine which characteristic is shared by both dark matter and baryonic matter, let's examine each option:
A. They both have been directly observed by scientists: Dark matter has not been directly observed by scientists yet. Its existence has been inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter. Baryonic matter, on the other hand, has been directly observed by scientists through various detection methods such as telescopes or particle detectors. Therefore, option A is not correct.
B. They both interact with each other: This is correct. Both dark matter and baryonic matter interact with each other through gravity. They are subject to gravitational attraction and play a role in the large-scale structure of the universe. So, option B is correct.
C. They are capable of absorbing light: While baryonic matter is capable of absorbing light, dark matter does not interact with electromagnetic radiation, including light. Dark matter neither emits nor absorbs light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, option C is not correct.
D. They both have gravity: This is correct. Both dark matter and baryonic matter have gravity. Gravity is the force that attracts objects towards each other, and both types of matter exert gravitational pull. So, option D is correct.
In summary, the characteristic shared by both dark matter and baryonic matter is that they both have gravity. Therefore, the correct answer is option D.