2 Black Holes: What Would Happen?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter hell18
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Black holes Holes
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

When two black holes, with one being smaller than the other, move toward each other, they will merge into a single, larger black hole. This merger conserves properties such as mass, angular momentum, and charge, resulting in a combined mass equal to the sum of the two original black holes. Additionally, the merger generates significant gravitational waves, which are detectable by gravity wave detectors specifically designed for such events.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of general relativity and its implications on black hole physics
  • Familiarity with gravitational waves and their detection methods
  • Knowledge of black hole properties, including mass, angular momentum, and charge
  • Basic concepts of astrophysics related to stellar evolution and black hole formation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research gravitational wave detection techniques, focusing on LIGO and Virgo observatories
  • Study the principles of black hole mergers and their astrophysical significance
  • Explore the effects of angular momentum in black hole coalescence
  • Investigate the role of gravitational radiation in the universe and its implications for cosmology
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, and students interested in black hole dynamics and gravitational wave research will benefit from this discussion.

hell18
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
when there are 2 black holes and 1 is smaller than the other and they move toward each other. what would the effect be? would they combine and become 1 big black hole or would the smaller black hole just disappear?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org


Originally posted by hell18
when there are 2 black holes and 1 is smaller than the other and they move toward each other. what would the effect be? would they combine and become 1 big black hole or would the smaller black hole just disappear?

they would merge into a black hole with larger mass

some energy would escape as gravitational waves
(repercussions of the merger)
but except for that, the mass of the combined hole would
be the sum of the two masses when they were still separate
and far from each other.
 
Yep, they would coalesce into one larger, black hole conserving properties such as mass angular momentum and charge.

As Marcus said tey would produce a lot of gravational radiation as well, which means that gravity wave detectors are set up to look for just this kind of event.
 

Similar threads

High School Confusion regarding black hole spin
  • · Replies 40 ·
2
Replies
40
Views
6K
High School I Need Help on Understanding Some Basic Astrophysics / Sand Clock Universe
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
High School What is the actual shape of black holes?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Stargazing Dark matter and its effect on the orbit of stars
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
High School So, a black hole and an antimatter star bump into each other....
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Undergrad What affects light near black holes and stars?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Light curving around vortex simulating a black hole
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Undergrad The initial density of an object and its compression into a black hole
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
High School Ultramassive Black Hole (UMB), 30 billion solar masses?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad Would it be possible for a black hole to have a "solar system"?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K