What density does something have to have to be considered a black hole?

In summary, any amount of mass can potentially form a black hole if its density reaches a point where its Schwarzschild radius is smaller than its actual radius. This can be mathematically represented as the density being equal to 3/8 times the square of the speed of light divided by the gravitational constant and the circular area of the object's radius in a classical universe.
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klite
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"Any amount of mass at all can in principle be made to form a black hole if you compress it to a high enough density."

What is the high enough density?
 
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This high enough density is the density at which the schwarzchild radius of the object is less than the actual radius of the object.

Mathematically,
[tex]r_s=\frac{2Gm}{c^2}=r[/tex]
If you assume the object to be a uniform sphere, we can write its mass as the product of density and volume:
[tex]m=\rho V=\frac{4/3}\rho\pi r^3[/tex]

And substituting into the first equation,
[tex]r=\frac{2G(\frac{4/3}\rho\pi r^3){c^2} [/tex]
[tex]\rho=\frac{3}{8}\frac{c^2}{G\pi r^2}[/tex]

In a completely classical universe.
 

1. What is the definition of a black hole?

A black hole is a region of space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, including light, can escape from it.

2. What is the minimum density required for an object to become a black hole?

The minimum density required for an object to become a black hole is known as the Schwarzchild density, which is approximately 9 x 10^17 kg/m^3.

3. Can an object of any size become a black hole if it reaches the required density?

Yes, any object can become a black hole if it reaches the required density. However, for smaller objects, the required density is much higher due to their smaller mass.

4. How does the density of a black hole compare to other objects?

The density of a black hole is extremely high, with some estimates putting it at billions of times denser than the sun. This makes it one of the densest objects in the universe.

5. Is there a limit to how dense a black hole can be?

There is no known limit to how dense a black hole can be. As more matter falls into a black hole, its density will continue to increase. However, there is a theoretical limit known as the Planck density, which is the highest possible density in the universe.

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