Reference: Disturbance Theory
Space is the property of the extensions of a substance. In the absence of substance there are no extensions, and therefore, there is no space. The EMPTINESS (referenced earlier) is devoid of substance, and, therefore, it is also devoid of space.
Matter is the only substance we have known until recent past. We consider “space” to be those regions of the universe that are not by filled by matter. The nature of space has been a mystery.
“Empty space” is the region of the universe not filled by matter.
We see space occupied by matter to be three-dimensional, so we consider “empty space” to be three-dimensional. We see the space occupied by matter to be rigid, so we measure “empty space” as if it were rigid. But this has not been satisfactory.
There have been considerations since ancient times that “empty space” is filled by invisible matter called aether. Aether is no longer considered to be matter, but its actual nature is still disputed. At present, “empty space” seems to be defined mathematically only.
We consider “empty space” as if it is filled by some unknown substance.
It is true that “empty space” cannot exist in the absence of extensions defined by some substance. In mid-19th century Michael Faraday, the great experimental researcher, proposed the idea of field to replace the notion of materialistic aether. This idea was supported by James Clerk Maxwell who went on to show mathematically that light was an example of this substance called field.
Faraday was the first to suggest that the “empty space” is actually the electromagnetic field.
However, the idea of field was opposed by scientists who believed in “action at a distance” because of the work done earlier by Newton. But as Faraday pointed out, Newton himself was not comfortable with the notion of “action at a distance” even though his mathematics seem to explain it. However, this opposition persisted because the nature of gravitational attraction was not understood. In the early part of 20th century, Einstein came up with the mathematics to explain gravity but its connection with the mathematics of electromagnetic field is still lacking.
The opposition to the idea of “field replacing aether” came from its lack of explanation for gravitational attraction.
However, it is pretty much established that “empty space” is a field, but the exact nature of that field is yet to be determined. The field is a more basic substance than matter. It has spatial dimensions. These spatial dimensions may be understood in terms of the extensions of its cycles. The extension of a single cycle is called a WAVELENGTH.
The extensions of field are made up of wavelength of its cycles.
As frequency increases, more cycles occur within a measured interval. Thus cycles become denser and wavelengths shrink with increasing frequency. We may say that the extensions of field shrink and become increasingly “substantial” in areas where frequency is greater.
The wavelength of a cycle shrinks with increasing frequency.
We associate material characteristics with the characteristics of atom. An atom is made up of high frequency field that is rapidly increasing in frequency toward its center. The nucleus at the center of the atom has the highest frequency and the smallest wavelength. It has the characteristics of material.
The characteristic of matter is approached with increasing frequency and shrinking wavelength.
On the whole the wavelength of an atom is infinitesimal. It is so small that any fluctuations in its value are insignificant. Thus, it appears to be unchanging and absolute. it determines the character of the “space occupied” by matter. Thus it also seems to have absolute characteristics as “space”. This is the space of Newton.
The absolute space of Newton is essentially the field of infinitesimal wavelength that makes up matter.
The empty space right next to a material surface may carry a gradient of decreasing frequency and increasing wavelength because the way atoms are structured. The wavelengths of field within an empty box may add up to the dimensions of the box, but they wouldn’t be distributed evenly within that box. Einstein’s theory of relativity talks about length contraction as an object approaches the velocity of light. This can now be better understood in terms of varying wavelength of the field.
The characteristic of “empty space” varies with wavelengths of field .
Field does not “occupy space”, as thought by many. Field’s extensions appear as space. Field is not a “condition in space”, as thought. Field is a disturbance in emptiness.
The background of sun, moon and stars should more properly be called field though we see it as “space”. The heavenly bodies are extremely dense regions of this field. They are not “matter in space”.
This universe is, therefore, made up of FIELD; and the background of this universe is EMPTINESS.
When we look at heavens, we are looking at the extensions of field among the stars and beyond.
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