What precisely is Space?

(Note I may be using the term space incorrectly here, bear with me)

I was starting to write sci-fi style book and in trying to come up with some feasible form of propulsion that doesn’t have too many logistical problems (I.E mass/thrust ratios), I was considering the possibility of some kind of propulsion device that would manipulate space.
But in trying to figure out if something like this would work (With the help of magical future technology, of course), I realised I don’t really know exactly what space actually IS.

I think I understand fairly well that there is matter, and I’m pretty sure that matter is distinct from… well, non-matter. Space. Whatever the matter is…. “Resting” on, if that makes sense. In explanations of gravity I have heard, gravity is explained as the way mass manipulates/distorts space.
So what exactly is being distorted here?

As far as I know on the micro scales atoms are composed of various fields, but in perspective what are these actually existing on/in.

✅ Answers

greatly appreciated, and do correct me on any of the above points if I’m wrong.

(This question is mainly about the question of what exactly is space, but any contribution to a viable form of long distance space travel would also be appreciated)

✅ Answers

  • Answerer 1

    Space is what stops everything being together at any instant in time. The preceding sentence is my copyright, by the way.

    Good question.

    You need to consider quantum foam and suchlike for your story. Contact me.

  • Answerer 2

    Space is more than the gap between things. it is a thing in and of itself. It compacts, adjusts, when relativity kicks in. It might even be made of quanta, little spacelets if you will. Some even think these quanta are polarized.

    When space is curved that forms a potential energy well with the bottom of the well located where the source of that curvature lies. The actual dimensions of space are curved (i.e., it’s no longer Euclidean Space where the Pythagorean equation is valid), and gradients are formed. All this results in the effects we call gravity.

    So as asserted earlier, space is more than just gaps between things.

    I have your propulsion system. It needs no logistics and will accelerate a starship to 1/4 in a matter of days at 1 g acceleration. Here it is copied from my Excel spreadsheet where I’ve been playing with the notion of converting electrons to radiant energy by decoupling them from the Higgs Field.

    Mass = 450000 kg for the ISS 4,414,500.00 Newtons ISS weight on Earth’s surface
    From F = MA, thrust for A = 9.810E+00 m/s^2 is F = 4.415E+06 Newtons where we discount the weight
    From V = AT, the time T = V/A to reach V = 0.250 C is T = 7,639,908.26 seconds
    0.243 weeks discounting relativity
    1.700 days

    From QE = FS and S = 1.692E+07 meters, QE = 7.4695E+13 Joules expended during acceleration
    Power QE/T = 9.7769E+06 J/sec (Watts) is the requisite power from the electrons
    At 11.942 amps electron flow 9.7768E+06 J/sec (Watts) is the provided power from the electrons
    The difference is = -8.0825E+01 Watts

    Current = 11.9416 amps 1.194E+20 e per second
    6.102E+19 MeV per second power assuming all mass energy converted to radiant
    9.777E+06 Joules per second (Watts) 6.24146E+12 MeV/Joule
    N.meter of thrust per second
    7.211E+06 ft-lbs of thrust per second

    Here we see a 450,000 kg starship propelled by decoupling electrons from the Higgs Field and causing those electrons to conserve energy by converting their mass energy to 100% radiant energy, which for a thrusting current of 11.9 amps yields 9.78 megawatts of thrusting power. At a 1 g acceleration throughout to reach V = .25C end speed, it takes roughly 1/4 week while thrusting at 7.21 million ft-lbs/second.

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  • Answerer 3

    It’s a transparent a priori field that serves as the fundamental substrate for 100 octaves of energy plus all forms of matter from the smallest unit through various electron forms and up to atomic elements, planets, interstellar materials, stars, galaxies. Material physical evolutions occur in space and it is transcendental, meaning it can serve as the substrate for many levels of actualized realities. These can have a chemistry more complex, more elements for example.

    In a manner of speaking, one could say higher realities and beings are profoundly less dense, but do NOT get the idea the heaviest items are found at our current level.

    If you’re a basic good and kindly person, chances are you’ll see most of this, perhaps all, eventually.

    Empty space is NOT nothingness. One would have to exit space to find nothingness, not possible while existing in physical body for sure. Plus, you might become nothingness in the process, so best to continue a cosmic residence here and accept the ordained pilgrim’s path.

    Space is before and within matter, but energies operate in vast cycles and equilibriums and are intelligently controlled in various ways and differently at various levels, higher beings focused ever more widely, more flawlessly, with more sovereign supreme power(s).

    The last is not apparent or visible to primitive beings, even seems inherent to most, if not all, scientists.

    You might say God is not interested in Nobel Prize to say the least. Not a lot of advertising as men do, but you are welcome to enjoy everything along the way!

    Source(s):
    Eyes to see. Eyes to see more than what’s usual.

  • Answerer 4

    Space is where my masters are working, manipulating your culture to brace for our arrival.

  • Answerer 5

    Space, or more accurately, space-time, can be thought of as a fabric (loosely of course). Space contains stuff … high energy particles, most likely dark matter (though this is still to be confirmed), dark energy, etc. So it’s a medium of sorts. Any object with mass distorts this fabric as it moves through it, such that other objects fall toward each other if they get close enough to each other.

    A shuttle in orbit basically falls around the planet; it’s speed sufficient enough to prevent it falling toward the center of the planet (as all of us do walking on the planet). We are falling toward the center of Earth all the time, but the planet get’s in the way.

    Long distance space travel is an interesting topic. As you probably know, the distances between objects in space are vast. Getting to a star system which is say, 100 light years from Earth (625 trillion miles) would take 7000+ years at 10 million miles per hour (which is fast).

    But to be honest, speed is only part of the problem. Whatever method is used to propel yourself to millions or tens of millions of miles per hour, you still have another problem … detecting, and deflecting stuff that gets in the way … like a grain of sand or some other tiny tiny particle of matter. You will need extraordinary technology and materials to solve this problem.

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  • Answerer 6

    Space is not an empty area. I can’t go in to a lot of details. Basically that is an issue under investigation now and the answer is not completely understood. The theory being widely investigated now is that it is an area made up of dark matter. I think you would be best served by looking this up for yourself as it is too complex for me to type it out and I am far from understanding the science of it all.

  • Answerer 7

    This is a good question! In the simplest and most comprehensive answer, space is a continuous physical volume where objects exist and events occur. It’s probably too vague for your purposes but that’s the widest description that you can get. The best way to describe space in the context of the vacuum that you’re most likely thinking of is that it is nothing, or rather a lack of something. However, the really counter intuitive part about this is that even where there appears to be nothing, there is still something. Even in the void of outer space, there’s still around a few hundred particles per cubic centimetre. Even without this fact the nothing still consists of something. Particles are emerging out of nowhere, existing for an instant and then annihilating; so that conservation of energy isn’t violated. So in this context, space is both a lack of things and an abundance of things.

    Since you’re looking at theoretical propulsion technologies, the most accurate description of space would most likely be the construct known as spacetime. Space time is, as stated above, is the infinitely large canvas on which all of existence plays out. By combining both space (3 dimensions) and time (1 dimension) into a single extended construct, many modern physical theories have been radically simplified… which leads me onto your propulsion device.

    There is actually already a few working theories out there for hypothetical propulsion devices, the most notable is which is probably known as the Alcubierre drive. The Alcubierre drive is basically a theoretical technology that would allow faster than light travel by contracting spacetime in front of a ship and expanding it behind it, pushing it through space at faster-than-light speeds without violating any of Einstein’s field equations, however it does rely on having exotic matter which has negative mass that we have get to discover (potential plot line?) as well as other complications. Another really cool technology in development would actually use the randomly appearing particles (called quantum vacuum fluctuations) I described before to propel the craft through space using orthogonal electric and magnetic fields, like the propeller on the back of a motor boat. This is cool because you don’t actually need to carry any propellant along with you.

    Sorry if I’ve been a bit vague, but space is a very complicated thing to try and explain, especially without getting into complicated maths. I’ve linked two pieces of information on both propulsion techniques below. I just hope I could help. 🙂

    Source(s):
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_…
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_vac…

  • Answerer 8

    It is just known as the space-time continuum. Objects interact with spacetime and as you said causes it to bend. I don’t understand it well enough yet to go any further with this answer – but thank you for making me think about it!

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