Understanding Spinning Black Holes: A Confused Perspective

In summary: But the 'massy' part of the black hole is actually a simple point structure with a large mass and density with (almost?) infinite curvature. So there is no mass to revolve around this point, and hence no more orbital angular momentum.
  • #1
Riogho
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Okay, I know there is observational evidence for spinning black holes, so therefore I must be confused about something, and I want you to tell me what.


If you have a star that is spinning, therefore it has orbital angular momentum (mass revolving around a point), then as it is collapsing in a black hole, it shoots out particles that probably take some of that with it, but not all, and because angular momentum is conserved the black hole will spin.

However, it is my understanding that the actually 'massy' part of the black hole is a simple point structure with a large mass and density with (almost?) infinite curvature. But if it is a point, there is no mass to revolve around this point therefore no more orbital angular momentum.

I've probably screwed up already, but my idea is that like an electron (which is a point particle that has angular momentum) instead of having orbital angular momentum it is transformed into spin angular momentum, (where it acts as if it is 'spinning' though it does not) this would seem to explain it away.

Correct? No?

Thanks for the help.
 
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  • #2
The singularity for a rotating black hole is a ring.
 
  • #3
you have to believe in the mathematics!

Riogho said:
Okay, I know there is observational evidence for spinning black holes

No, I don't think there is. For spinning pulsars etc, yes, but not (yet!) for black holes.

However, it is my understanding that the actually 'massy' part of the black hole is a simple point structure with a large mass and density with (almost?) infinite curvature. But if it is a point, there is no mass to revolve around this point therefore no more orbital angular momentum.

I've probably screwed up already, but my idea is that like an electron (which is a point particle that has angular momentum) instead of having orbital angular momentum it is transformed into spin angular momentum, (where it acts as if it is 'spinning' though it does not) this would seem to explain it away.

Correct? No?

Thanks for the help.

Yup, your comparison with an electron seems as good as any.

A black hole is a "simple point structure" (well, actually it's a ring structure, as George Jones says, but the ring doesn't rotate).

And it's very difficult to accept that point structures can have gravity or angular momentum or charge.

But if you believe they exist at all, you have to believe in the mathematics, and the mathematics says they do! :smile:

Awkward, isn't it?
 
  • #4
A rotating black hole 'rotates' in the sense that it 'drags spacetime around it'.
 
  • #5
The ring previously mentioned comes from the relatively large amounts of anti-energies. These energies have been discovered within the laboratory. They, however, are extremely rare in the universe but when the universe's matter is collected by objects such as black holes it also exhibits a higher concentration of these energies which are actually repulsive to each other which helps to provide the force necessary to maintain a hollow core, the inside of the ring, of a black hole. Many physicists speculate that these rings may actually be the gates into other parallel universes with altered (usually considered inverse) physical governing forces.
 
  • #6
Just a thought, but my view is the black hole mass must spin to exist in the space time fabric in our universe and by spinning creates a vortex we all know, if it didn't it would tear the fabric and drop to the other side of space time as we know it, what it does there is speculation, I have ideas but not dot this discussion, our fabric heals it's self, black holes and it's core mass must rotate to exist in our universe.
 
  • #7
For any outside observer, a black hole only has a surface, and that surface probably can rotate.
 

FAQ: Understanding Spinning Black Holes: A Confused Perspective

1. What is a spinning black hole?

A spinning black hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that even light cannot escape from it. It is formed when a massive star collapses in on itself, and its rotation causes it to become elongated and spin rapidly.

2. How do we study spinning black holes?

We study spinning black holes by observing their effects on the space and matter around them. This can include studying the behavior of stars and gas near the black hole, analyzing the gravitational waves emitted by the black hole, and examining the distortion of light around the black hole's event horizon.

3. How does spin affect a black hole?

The spin of a black hole affects its size, shape, and strength of its gravitational pull. A spinning black hole will have an oblate (squashed) shape rather than a perfect sphere, and its spin can also create a rotational frame dragging effect that can influence the motion of objects around it.

4. Can we see a spinning black hole?

While we cannot directly see a black hole, we can see the effects of its spin on the space and matter around it. This can include the distortion of light and the emission of high-energy particles. With advancements in technology, we may be able to capture an image of a black hole's shadow in the future.

5. How does spin impact the event horizon of a black hole?

The event horizon of a spinning black hole is not a perfect sphere but is distorted due to its rotation. This distortion can create an ergosphere, a region where objects cannot remain stationary and must rotate with the black hole. The ergosphere is also the boundary where the black hole's rotational energy can be extracted.

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