Black Holes: B. Green's The Fabric of Cosmos

In summary, a black hole is a region in space with a strong gravitational pull that nothing, including light, can escape from. They are formed when a massive star dies and its core collapses, creating a singularity at its center. Nothing can escape from a black hole once it passes the event horizon, but they can merge with other black holes. Black holes are significant in the study of the universe as they help us understand gravity and extreme conditions.
  • #1
go quantum!
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Do you know any book written by a great physicist where he talks about black holes? I always enjoy reading the more relaxed way of talking that appears in popular scientific books such as The Fabric of Cosmos - B. Green.
 
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  • #2
go quantum! said:
Do you know any book written by a great physicist where he talks about black holes? I always enjoy reading the more relaxed way of talking that appears in popular scientific books such as The Fabric of Cosmos - B. Green.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393312763/?tag=pfamazon01-20 by string theorist Leonard Susskind.
 
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1. What is a black hole?

A black hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, including light, can escape from it. This is due to the immense amount of mass packed into a small space, causing a distortion in the fabric of space-time.

2. How are black holes formed?

Black holes are formed when a massive star dies and its core collapses under its own gravity. This creates a singularity, a point of infinite density, at the center of the black hole. The size of the black hole depends on the mass of the star that formed it.

3. Can anything escape from a black hole?

No, anything that passes the event horizon of a black hole, the point of no return, will be pulled into the singularity and cannot escape. However, some particles can escape through Hawking radiation, but this is a very slow process.

4. Can black holes merge?

Yes, when two black holes are in close proximity, they can merge together to form a larger black hole. This occurs when galaxies collide, causing their respective black holes to merge as well.

5. What is the significance of black holes in the study of the universe?

Black holes play a crucial role in our understanding of the universe and its evolution. They help us study the effects of gravity on a large scale and how it shapes the structure of the universe. They also provide insights into the behavior of matter and energy in extreme conditions.

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