Confused about black holes and acceleration

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies misconceptions about black holes and their movement. Black holes do not possess infinite mass; rather, they have finite mass with density approaching infinity. The gravitational interaction between two black holes can cause them to move towards each other, and this movement is a result of their gravitational pull rather than requiring infinite energy. Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping the dynamics of black holes in the context of general relativity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of general relativity
  • Knowledge of black hole properties and characteristics
  • Familiarity with gravitational interactions
  • Concept of mass and density in physics
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  • Research the properties of black holes and their formation
  • Study gravitational waves and their relation to black hole collisions
  • Explore the implications of general relativity on massive objects
  • Learn about the Schwarzschild radius and its significance
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Astronomy enthusiasts, physics students, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of black holes and gravitational interactions.

hazhar
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as a warning, my knowledge of physics is purely on the level of 'mild interest'. Any innacuracies/stupidities in the following post are because of this, and I hope you'll make allowances for my layman status :-p

basically, I'm confused as to how black holes 'move'. My understanding of relativity is that the more massive an object, the more energy it requires to accelerate... but my understanding of the nature of a black hole is that it is infinitely massive... Does that mean a black hole requires infinite energy to accelerate, even a tiny amount? That seems like a mildly valid situation... but say we have 2 black holes, very close to each other. Presumably their gravity will cause them to move towards each other... but where is the energy for this move coming from? And would an encounter with another black hole be the only situation in which a black hole will move?

I hope that makes enough sense for you to be able to explain what the solution to this is :rolleyes:
 
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but my understanding of the nature of a black hole is that it is infinitely massive...

Here lies a basic problem, black holes do NOT have an infinite mass. There mass is finite but the density of the mass approaches infinity.
 
Here lies a basic problem, black holes do NOT have an infinite mass. There mass is finite but the density of the mass approaches infinity.

heh. i thought it would be something simple like that. nevermind then... :rolleyes:
 

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