What is ‘Dark Matter’?
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
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What is ‘Dark Matter’?
90 percent of all the matter in the Universe is thought to be Dark Matter. This is matter that we cannot see. It doesn’t emit of reflect light or at least light that is detectable. We know that it exists because of the gravitational detection. It is found in galaxies and can be detected by the movement of stars in the galaxies and is also between the galaxies in their clusters and can be detected by the motion of the galaxies.
The elementary particles of Dark Matter are unknown and it is thought that some of it consists of dim stars or planets. Dark Matter was discovered by the Dutch Astronomer Jan Oort who was investigating the composition of galaxies in 1932.
It is believed that with the amount of Dark Matter in the Universe it may bring the amount of matter up to the critical value to halt the expansion of the Universe. We can only detect ten percent of the amount needed, however there may be more Dark Matter in between the clusters of galaxies. Is called dark simply because we can’t see it.
I have made several batches of questions. This question is from the first batch. To find other batches of questions plus the newest one return to the main h2g2 as Q and A page using the first link below. Other questions in this batch are also below.
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| How old is the Universe? | The age of the Universe and how we managed to work it out. |
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| How will the Universe end? | Three throrys about the death of the Universe and how to decide which will be the one. |
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| Is there any life out there? | Are we alone? The search for ET. |
| What is space made out of? | The story of nothing. |
| What is ‘Dark Matter’? | The hunt for the missing matter of the Universe. |
| Where is the centre of the Universe and where is the edge of the Universe? | "Here is where the Universe began. Visit the Big Bang cafe and souvenir shop." |
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If you would like to contact me please use this link:
Richard Derek Young.
