Democritus
The understanding that gases are composed of particles separated by empty space emerged in the early 19th century, particularly with the work of scientists like John Dalton and later, Amedeo Avogadro. Dalton's atomic theory, proposed in 1803, laid the groundwork for this understanding. The kinetic molecular theory, developed in the mid to late 19th century, further explained how gases can be compressed while retaining mass due to the space between particles.
This can be explained in terms of the kinetic molecular theory of gases. Due to the low density of gases, the particles are more widely spaced and so most of the volume taken up by a gas is empty space (as in any shaped container).
Gas particles can be compressed into smaller spaces because they have a lot of empty space between them. When gas particles are compressed, their volume decreases due to the reduction in this empty space, resulting in an increase in pressure.
Gases are easy to compress into a smaller space because their particles are relatively far apart and move freely. Unlike solids and liquids, which have tightly packed particles, the large amount of empty space between gas molecules allows them to be pushed closer together when pressure is applied. This property is described by Boyle's Law, which states that the volume of a gas decreases as pressure increases, assuming temperature remains constant. As a result, gases can be easily compressed into smaller volumes under pressure.
Democritus
robert boyle
The understanding that gases are composed of particles separated by empty space emerged in the early 19th century, particularly with the work of scientists like John Dalton and later, Amedeo Avogadro. Dalton's atomic theory, proposed in 1803, laid the groundwork for this understanding. The kinetic molecular theory, developed in the mid to late 19th century, further explained how gases can be compressed while retaining mass due to the space between particles.
Light travels fastest through empty spaces, as there are fewer particles to interact with and slow it down. In solids and liquids, the particles are closely packed together, causing light to travel slower. In gases, the particles are more spread out than in solids and liquids, so light travels faster than in those states but slower than in empty spaces.
A vacuum is completely empty of air and all other matter. It is a space devoid of any particles or gases.
Very probable this space is empty, is vacuum.
John Dalton concluded that gases were made up of solid particles with empty spaces between them. This idea helped contribute to the development of the atomic theory of matter.
Democritus, an ancient Greek philosopher, proposed the idea that matter is made of atoms that are indivisible and separated by empty space. This hypothesis was based on reasoning and philosophical arguments rather than experimental evidence.
Some waves can transfer energy only through liquids and solids, but not through gases or vacuum. Some waves, like sound waves, can transfer energy through gases, liquids and solids but not through vacuum. And some waves, notably electromagnetic waves, can transfer energy through vacuum as well as matter.
Radiation can travel through; solids, liquids, gases and it can also pass through a vacuem (where particles are not present). This is because radiation uses waves to emit not particles.
Sound waves require a medium, such as air or water, to propagate because they are mechanical waves that travel by causing particles in the medium to vibrate. In the vacuum of empty space, there are no particles for the sound waves to interact with, so they cannot travel.
This can be explained in terms of the kinetic molecular theory of gases. Due to the low density of gases, the particles are more widely spaced and so most of the volume taken up by a gas is empty space (as in any shaped container).