Why is dark matter and dark energy reffered to as dark?
Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter thought to account for approximately 85% of the matter in the universe. Dark matter is called "dark" because it does not appear to interact with the electromagnetic field, which means it does not absorb, reflect, or emit electromagnetic radiation and is, therefore, difficult to detect.
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The terms "dark matter" and "dark energy" are used because they refer to components of the universe that we cannot directly observe or detect using our current methods and instruments. The word "dark" is used metaphorically to convey our lack of understanding and knowledge about these mysterious substances.
Dark Matter:
To understand why it is called "dark matter," we need to look at its properties. Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that does not interact with light or any other electromagnetic radiation, making it difficult to directly observe and detect. We believe it exists because its gravitational effects can be observed on visible matter, such as stars and galaxies. The term "dark" in "dark matter" thus suggests its elusive nature, as it remains invisible to our current observational tools.
Dark Energy:
The term "dark energy" is used to describe an even more enigmatic phenomenon. Dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that permeates all of space and is thought to be responsible for the observed accelerating expansion of the universe. Unlike dark matter, dark energy does not interact with matter or radiation at all, including light. Similar to dark matter, the term "dark" is used to convey that we have limited understanding of its nature, and it remains unobservable using current observational techniques.
In summary, the terms "dark matter" and "dark energy" are used metaphorically to indicate our lack of direct observation and understanding of these substances. The "dark" label emphasizes the mystery and invisibility associated with these elusive cosmic components.