Yes, that's a good way to conceptualize the roles of dark matter and dark energy in the universe:
1. **Dark Matter as Galactic Scaffolding**:
- **Structure Formation**: Dark matter acts as a gravitational "scaffolding" for galaxies and galaxy clusters. Its gravitational pull helps gather and hold together ordinary matter (baryonic matter), leading to the formation and maintenance of galaxies and larger structures.
- **Mass and Gravity**: Even though dark matter doesn't interact with electromagnetic forces, it has mass and therefore exerts gravitational force. This gravitational effect influences the motion of stars within galaxies and the movement of galaxies within clusters.
2. **Dark Energy as the Driving Force of the Cosmos**:
- **Cosmic Expansion**: Dark energy is thought to be responsible for the accelerated expansion of the universe. It acts as a repulsive force that counteracts the gravitational pull of matter.
- **Dominance at Large Scales**: While dark matter dominates on the scale of galaxies and clusters, dark energy becomes significant at the largest scales of the universe. Its effects are most noticeable in the increasing rate at which galaxies are receding from each other.
So, in summary, dark matter provides the gravitational framework for the structure of the universe, particularly on the scales of galaxies and clusters, while dark energy drives the expansion of the universe on the largest scales, affecting the cosmos as a whole.
