Anti-Gravity and Black Holes: A Theoretical Analysis

In summary, the conversation discusses the idea of reversing gravity in a black hole and the potential consequences. The theoretical possibility of a white hole and its connection to a black hole through a wormhole is also mentioned. However, the existence of white holes is disputed and the conversation concludes with the statement that wormholes can only be created artificially.
  • #1
VelociBlade
42
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I was wondering about a question that popped into my mind recently -Let's say, theoretically, a device existed that could reverse the force of gravity somehow, to the point were it created antigravity. Since black holes are held together by their own gravity, pushing molecules closer than their magnetic fields would normally allow, if you launched this device into the singularity of a black hole, wouldn't the black hole, with no gravity to hold it together, fling itself apart due to it's now-unmatched magnetic force? In fact, wouldn't this work for other dense stellar objects too?
 
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  • #2
That's a little crazy of a scenario. Instead, how about just: "what would happen if gravity in a black hole switched off?"

I would say that it would blow itself apart. With nothing left to counter all that electro-magnetic force / degenerate electron pressure, yea, I'd say that'd be one hell of a bang. Considering the enormous amount of mass it takes to form a black hole, that would be a lot of stuff, to say the least.

Really, this would work for any mass that's gravity forces particles closer together than they want to be. The more massive, the more gravity, the further back the "sling shot" is pulled.

Not that gravity is going to switch off any time soon.
 
  • #3
A antigravity mechanism struck me as the simplest way to introduce the idea at the time.
 
  • #4
It's all good!

I follow.
 
  • #5
I think what you are talking about theoretically is what is known as the theoretical white hole. This is the opposite of a black hole in that it is spitting out matter. Theoretically, a white hole and a black hole are attached by a wormhole. However, this only exists theoretically for now.
 
  • #6
This isn't theoretical; this is fantasy. You might as well ask what unicorns would do if dropped into a black hole.
 
  • #7
I'm pretty sure Einstein's equations do not rule out the theoretical possibility of a wormhole.
 
  • #8
is a black hole 2D or 3D?

say it was 2D and as a disk. looking from the top down is where matter is being sucked in, and then underneath it would there be nothing or some kind of vortex that you can see like when you pull the plug out of the bath tub?

if it was 3D that would mean that matter disappears into some point in space as it gets sucked in.

actually the 3D one sounds more correct. am i right?
 
  • #9
jamesabc said:
is a black hole 2D or 3D?

say it was 2D and as a disk. looking from the top down is where matter is being sucked in, and then underneath it would there be nothing or some kind of vortex that you can see like when you pull the plug out of the bath tub?

if it was 3D that would mean that matter disappears into some point in space as it gets sucked in.

actually the 3D one sounds more correct. am i right?

A non-rotating black hole would be spherical, like a ball, and you can fall in from any direction.
 
  • #10
jamesabc said:
is a black hole 2D or 3D?

say it was 2D and as a disk. looking from the top down is where matter is being sucked in, and then underneath it would there be nothing or some kind of vortex that you can see like when you pull the plug out of the bath tub?

if it was 3D that would mean that matter disappears into some point in space as it gets sucked in.

actually the 3D one sounds more correct. am i right?

At the geometric point of view of a star would be 3D but mathematically a whole different question since involves variables other than space like time. Although in many movies and cartoons is portrayed as a 2D portal to a different world.
 
  • #11
VelociBlade said:
I was wondering about a question that popped into my mind recently -Let's say, theoretically, a device existed that could reverse the force of gravity somehow, to the point were it created antigravity. Since black holes are held together by their own gravity, pushing molecules closer than their magnetic fields would normally allow, if you launched this device into the singularity of a black hole, wouldn't the black hole, with no gravity to hold it together, fling itself apart due to it's now-unmatched magnetic force? In fact, wouldn't this work for other dense stellar objects too?
Well people have looked at the idea of a varying gravitational constant in the context of general relativity, so one could then postulate that the gravitational constant could be altered by some device and possibly set to zero or made negative. However, I think the black hole would still win. Your antigravity field would be limited to traveling at light speed, and so would not be able to catch up with infalling matter before it had become incorporated into the black hole, and after that whatever happens there is no way that it can affect what is outside the black hole. It might be informative (if somewhat difficult) to do the calculation though.
 
  • #12
DaveC426913 said:
This isn't theoretical; this is fantasy. You might as well ask what unicorns would do if dropped into a black hole.

So what if it's fantasy, You have to start somewhere.
 
  • #13
w3390 said:
I think what you are talking about theoretically is what is known as the theoretical white hole. This is the opposite of a black hole in that it is spitting out matter. Theoretically, a white hole and a black hole are attached by a wormhole. However, this only exists theoretically for now.

FOR THE LAST TIME...WHITE HOLES DO NOT EXIST, THEY NEVER DID,NOT NOW, NOT EVER! See why in my post: why white holes do not exist in the astrophysics section. Srry, got carried away...(:
 
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  • #14
w3390 said:
I'm pretty sure Einstein's equations do not rule out the theoretical possibility of a wormhole.

No, they do not. Wormholes can exist, however they can only be created aritficially. www.daviddarling.info/images/wormhole_graphic.jpg
 
  • #15
Umm... All I asked waswhat would happen if you turned off gravity in a black hole, there was no white holes or wormholes involved. I think Archosaur answered the question the best.
 
  • #16
VelociBlade said:
Umm... All I asked waswhat would happen if you turned off gravity in a black hole, there was no white holes or wormholes involved. I think Archosaur answered the question the best.

errrrrrrrrrr......thats ok though. I enjoy answering other people's questions. Check mine out though it's intersting. (:
 
  • #17
Ultrastar 1 said:
So what if it's fantasy, You have to start somewhere.
Perhaps, but it doesn't belong on this board.
 
  • #18
Archosaur said:
That's a little crazy of a scenario. Instead, how about just: "what would happen if gravity in a black hole switched off?"

I would say that it would blow itself apart. With nothing left to counter all that electro-magnetic force / degenerate electron pressure, yea, I'd say that'd be one hell of a bang. Considering the enormous amount of mass it takes to form a black hole, that would be a lot of stuff, to say the least.

Really, this would work for any mass that's gravity forces particles closer together than they want to be. The more massive, the more gravity, the further back the "sling shot" is pulled.

Not that gravity is going to switch off any time soon.

Question: is it even theoreticly possible to swich off a black hole's gravity?
 
  • #19
Ultrastar 1 said:
Question: is it even theoreticly possible to swich off a black hole's gravity?

No. No no no it's not. I'm not saying it really happens, or is possible. I'm just thinking from a bare bare bones point of view. Assume the cow is a sphere, y'know.

Just mathematically speaking, say you had a bunch of particles that attracted each other with force A to the point where they completely overrode the repulsive force B, crushing them to a singularity. If force A were to suddenly vanish, what would happen to the particles?

It is not possible to switch off a black hole's gravity. I just said that so I could skip all that "force A/ force B" stuff, but since I couldn't get away with even the slightest degree of implication, there you go.
 
  • #20
Archosaur said:
It is not possible to switch off a black hole's gravity. I just said that so I could skip all that "force A/ force B" stuff, but since I couldn't get away with even the slightest degree of implication, there you go.

It's not that we're simply being pedantic about the point, it's that there's no way, even in principle, to separate out the cause for the disappearance of gravity from the effect.

It's similar yet even more pronounced than the classic thought experiment "what would happen to the Earth if the Sun instantly disappeared?"

The sun cannot disappear in a way that violates physics. If you wanted to violate phyiscs to make it happen, then the answer you would get (such as, for example, superluminal cause and effect) is meaningless.
 
  • #21
Don't even call it gravity, then! Think of each particle as being pulled to the center by a force, then that force disappears, leaving only the repulsive force.
Just think of it like a sling shot.
Or, if saying "particle" is too real, then how about just points in 3d space?

Of course the answer is meaningless, because no, the problem doesn't exist in reality. The problem is meaningless.

The OP posed a speculative problem and requested a real answer.

I (tried my best to) turn it into a simple, meaningless problem and give a simple, meaningless answer.

I was not it any way trying do describe the universe.
 
  • #22
A black hole is pure gravity. If you switch the device on, it would simply repel everything around it (including the accretion disk) and will disappear in a few seconds.
 
  • #23
In sci-fi movies, I would bet that they would make the Black Hole throw any matter out/away from it, just like you would imagine if you reversed gravity.

But the fact that, if it was possible, switching a Black Hole's gravitational force would possibly pull it apart, but we can't be sure since this is science and testing we are many, many, many years away from.
 
  • #24
DaveC426913 said:
It's not that we're simply being pedantic about the point, it's that there's no way, even in principle, to separate out the cause for the disappearance of gravity from the effect.

It's similar yet even more pronounced than the classic thought experiment "what would happen to the Earth if the Sun instantly disappeared?"

The sun cannot disappear in a way that violates physics. If you wanted to violate phyiscs to make it happen, then the answer you would get (such as, for example, superluminal cause and effect) is meaningless.

Don't be so square man :) The thought experiment you mention was proposed by someone at some time. Do you think it was a stupid question? If not then I can't see why the OP can't ask a question as a result of another (quite similar) thought experiment. Btw, aren't thought experiments allways a result of fantasy? What did einstein say back in the days about knowledge vs fantasy? ;)
 
  • #25
This thread has strayed a long way from real science, if indeed it was grounded in real science. Thus, this thread is done.
 
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1. What is anti-gravity and how does it work?

Anti-gravity is a theoretical concept that suggests the existence of a force that counteracts the effects of gravity. This force would allow objects to float or move against the pull of gravity. However, there is currently no scientific evidence to support the existence of anti-gravity and it is still considered a hypothetical concept.

2. Can anti-gravity be harnessed for practical use?

There is currently no known way to harness anti-gravity for practical use. While some scientific theories propose the use of exotic materials or advanced technology to create anti-gravity, these ideas are still highly speculative. It is also important to note that the concept of anti-gravity goes against our current understanding of physics and the laws of nature.

3. How do black holes form?

Black holes are formed when a massive star dies and its core collapses under the force of its own gravity. This creates a singularity, a point of infinite density where the laws of physics as we know them break down. The intense gravitational pull of a black hole is so strong that even light cannot escape it, making it invisible to the naked eye.

4. What happens if you enter a black hole?

Entering a black hole would result in a phenomenon known as spaghettification. This is where the intense gravitational pull of the black hole would stretch and distort your body as you get closer to the singularity. Ultimately, you would be crushed and torn apart by the immense gravitational forces at the center of the black hole.

5. Can anything escape a black hole?

According to our current understanding of physics, nothing can escape a black hole once it has passed the event horizon, the point of no return. This includes light, which is why black holes are invisible. However, some theoretical concepts, such as Hawking radiation, suggest that small particles may be able to escape a black hole, but this has not been observed or proven.

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