Dark matter is stable and does not react with other particles.It does not absorb light,does not emit light, and it does not even interact with light. But what we know is, it bends light.
We cannot see it,but we know its there. A technique called Gravitational Lensing is used to detect dark matter.
Let me repeat it again.
Dark matter bends light that passes through it. So, even if we cannot see dark matter, by observing the bending of the light,we know it's there.
Gavitational Lensing, is precise, because it shows how much dark matter is, how it is distributed, and where its position.
Gravitational Lensing measures the distortion of the light rays,passing through dark matter.
Sorry for the repetitive sentences.But,i believe that, it needs to repetitive,as it is very important.
Dark matter also acts as a framework,like a skeleton, an invisible framework,holding the visible matter together. I include a picture that i draw to give a better view.
Also, the speed of a galaxy's spin, when calculated by scientists, is not stable,but it is stable. It cannot be stable, unless there is 'something' that holds the galaxy, making it stable. This something is the missing matter, a missing piece. And this something is called dark matter.
Dark matter,is an invisible mass,that is gravitational interactive and is able to affect the speed of the entire galaxy.
Let's go back to basic, what is matter? Matter is anything that has mass and occupy space. So do dark matter. It has mass and occupy space.
But we cannot hold it,or put it in a bottle,because it does not react with any visible particle known to us. In fact,it can just go passing through us,without we feel anything, or notice anything. It can just go passing through physical bodies.
Another important fact that needs to be paid attention to is, it interacts with gravity. Another repetition. :p
Did you know that,in the galaxy,the velocity of the orbiting of the gas and dust is constant,even though,it is supposedly that, the further away it is from the center,the velocity should actually slows down. Something is doing something to the velocity,making it constant. The answer is,of course,dark matter. The mass of dark matter is keeping the velocity of the galaxy, constant.Dark matter are surrounding the galaxy,keeping the galaxy whole.
Without dark matter, galaxy would fall apart.
Lastly, we know that we cannot see it.
Written by :
Mohd Arif Syafiq,
Sci-Fi Department,
23 April 2015.
