Is the Milky Way galactic blackhole slowly sucking us in?

In summary, the newest discovery of biggest black holes in the universe has people thinking about how they work and if they are a "draining hole of the galaxy." The findings show that if a black hole the mass of the Sun replaced the Sun, we would continue to orbit around it at the same rate.
  • #1
arabianights
62
7
with the newest discovery of biggest black holes in the universe, i suddenly had this weird thought: what if they're a draining hole of the galaxy, the spiraled arms and the shape, all looks awfully similar to a whirlpool, with black holes at the center of nearly all galaxies
 
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  • #2
Don't be afraid, this is NOT how black holes work. They are not literal "holes" in space that devour everything nearby. A black hole of 2 times the mass of the sun behaves EXACTLY like a normal star of that mass as long as objects stay outside a distance equal to the radius of the normal star.

For example, if the radius of the star was 1 million km, then as long as you stayed at a distance of at least 1 million km from an equal mass black hole, the gravitational pull is exactly the same. It is only once you get closer to the black hole that the gravity increases, since it is compacted into a much smaller volume of space.

If you compressed the Earth to 1/2 it's size, it would have no impact on how the Moon orbited, but the surface gravity would be somewhere on the order of 4 times as much as it is now. Make sense?
 
  • #3
Black holes aren't cosmic vacuums. If a black hole the mass of the Sun (which wouldn't normally occur in nature, but can in principal) were to replace the Sun, we would continue to orbit around it at the same rate. This back hole is really heavy, but REALLY far away.

Don't lose sleep over it.
 
  • #4
Drakkith said:
... if the radius of the star was 1 million km, then as long as you stayed at a distance of at least 1 million km from an equal mass black hole, the gravitational pull is exactly the same. It is only once you get closer to the black hole that the gravity increases, since it is compacted into a much smaller volume of space.

If you compressed the Earth to 1/2 it's size, it would have no impact on how the Moon orbited, but the surface gravity would be somewhere on the order of 4 times as much as it is now. Make sense?

Awesome example of gravity. Imo as easy to absorb as the "rubber sheet" analogy, but much much more descriptive of the physics.
 

1. What is a galactic black hole?

A galactic black hole is a massive, dense region in the center of a galaxy that has a strong gravitational pull. It is formed by the collapse of a massive star, and it can trap anything that gets too close, including light.

2. Is the Milky Way's black hole actively pulling us towards it?

Yes, the Milky Way's black hole, known as Sagittarius A*, is actively pulling us towards it. However, the force of gravity from the black hole is not significant enough to have a noticeable effect on our daily lives. It would take millions of years for the black hole to significantly alter the orbits of the planets in our solar system.

3. How do we know that the Milky Way has a black hole?

Scientists can detect the presence of a black hole by observing the motions of stars and gas around it. In the case of the Milky Way, we can see the effects of Sagittarius A* on nearby stars, indicating its presence. Additionally, telescopes can detect high-energy radiation coming from the vicinity of the black hole.

4. Will the Milky Way eventually be consumed by its black hole?

No, the Milky Way is not in danger of being consumed by its black hole. While Sagittarius A* is actively pulling in matter, the rate at which it is consuming material is relatively slow. Additionally, the black hole's gravitational pull is not strong enough to pull in stars and planets from the outer reaches of the galaxy.

5. Could the black hole in the Milky Way pose a threat to Earth's existence?

No, the black hole in the Milky Way does not pose a threat to Earth's existence. The distance between Earth and Sagittarius A* is too great for the black hole to have any significant impact on our planet. The black hole's gravitational pull is not strong enough to pull Earth out of its orbit or cause any catastrophic events on our planet.

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