How does the initial density of a large, star-forming nebula compare to a high-quality laboratory vacuum on Earth?
Answer
The initial density of the nebula is far less dense than the best vacuum achievable in a laboratory on Earth
The initial conditions within a massive nebula are characterized by extremely low particle concentration, highlighting how spread out the raw material for stars is. This initial state of extreme rarefaction means that the density of the gas and dust cloud is actually lower than what human technology can create under controlled conditions. Even the most successful high-vacuum environments achieved within scientific laboratories on Earth possess a higher density of matter compared to the vast, tenuous expanse of the initial, cold, diffuse stellar nursery.
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