Tidal Forces near Black Holes: Exploring Vertical and Horizontal Compression

In summary, tidal forces near black holes result in both vertical and horizontal compression of objects that come too close. This is due to the extreme gravitational pull of the black hole, causing a dramatic difference in the forces acting on different parts of an object. The vertical compression is caused by the gravitational gradient, while the horizontal compression is due to the tidal forces acting on the side of the object closest to the black hole. This phenomenon has been observed in simulations and can have significant effects on objects such as planets and stars that venture too close to a black hole.
  • #1
Dmitry67
2,567
1
Please confirm, I am not sure.

Outside the horizon, object is torn apart in vertical direction but is squezzed in a horizontal.
Inside the horizon, object is still torn apart in a 'vertical' direction, and in in the horizontal direction too
 
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  • #2
Dmitry67 said:
Outside the horizon, object is torn apart in vertical direction but is squezzed in a horizontal.
Inside the horizon, object is still torn apart in a 'vertical' direction, and in in the horizontal direction too

The object is stretched in the radial direction and squashed in the horizontal direction (sometimes reffered to as 'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaghetiffication" ' or 'the toothpaste effect'). Measuring the rate of contraction in the horizontal is one way a free-falling observer might be able to measure r-values once inside a static black hole (see page B-8 in 'Exploring Black Holes' by Taylor and Wheeler).

Regarding tidal forces inside black holes-
http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~vincent/4500.6-001/Cosmology/Tidal_Forces_%20In_%20A_%20Black_%20Hole.htm
 
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  • #3
I believe your link is still about the outside region.
Singularity in the non-rotating black hole is spacelike for a free falling obser4ver, it is not the point.

I am an amateur, so I check the pictures:
http://www.phy.syr.edu/courses/modules/LIGHTCONE/pics/bh3.gif
http://nrumiano.free.fr/Images/lightcones_E.gif

Approaching the singularity, lightcones become sharper and sharper. So any close objects will sooner or later lose connection to each other. The lightcones which become narrower and narrower is exactly the BIG RIP metrics. So tidal forces are ripping all apart in ALL directions.
 
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  • #4
The equation for tidal forces remains unchanged inside and outside the event horizon.

Click on the link below (which leads to a draft copy of the second edition of EBH available online), then on 'InsideBH090308v1.pdf' which will open a new window, go to page 7 and you'll see an explanation regarding how distances compact for free-falling objects in the horizontal direction within the event horizon and how this can be used to measure the r-coordinate-

http://exploringblackholes.com/

Better still, I recommend you buy the book as it should answer most of your questions.
 

1. What are tidal forces near black holes?

Tidal forces near black holes are the result of extreme gravitational pull from the black hole. As an object gets closer to the black hole, the difference in gravitational pull between the side closer to the black hole and the side farther away becomes greater, causing the object to experience a stretching force known as tidal force.

2. How do tidal forces affect objects near black holes?

Tidal forces can cause objects near black holes to be stretched and compressed in both the vertical and horizontal directions. The side facing the black hole experiences a stronger pull than the side facing away, resulting in a vertical stretching force. Additionally, if an object is orbiting the black hole, the difference in gravitational pull across its diameter can cause a horizontal compression force.

3. What is the significance of studying tidal forces near black holes?

Studying tidal forces near black holes can provide insight into the extreme gravitational conditions near these objects and how they affect the behavior of matter. It can also help us better understand the effects of tidal forces in other astronomical phenomena, such as galaxy mergers and the formation of planetary systems.

4. How are tidal forces near black holes measured?

Tidal forces near black holes can be measured through various methods, such as observing the stretching and compression of objects near the black hole or detecting changes in the electromagnetic radiation emitted from these objects. Gravitational wave detectors are also used to measure the ripples in space-time caused by tidal forces near black holes.

5. Can tidal forces near black holes be dangerous?

Yes, tidal forces near black holes can be dangerous for objects and even entire systems that venture too close. The extreme gravitational pull can tear apart objects and disrupt orbits. However, the strength of tidal forces depends on the size and distance of the black hole, so smaller black holes may have weaker tidal forces than larger ones.

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