Can an object be both a black hole and not a black hole?

In summary, an object with a relativistic mass would be considered a black hole to an observer moving at a high enough speed, but would not be considered a black hole to an observer moving in its frame of reference.
  • #1
friend
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According to Special Relativity, objects moving fast have more mass than objects at rest. So what if there is an object having a mass density near that required to create a black hole. Now if it were moving fast enough as well, it would gain enough mass density to become black hole. But to the observer moving in its frame of reference it would not. How can an object both be a black hole and not be a black hole? To an observer moving fast enough, every object would seem to be a black how, right?
 
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  • #2
friend said:
To an observer moving fast enough, every object would seem to be a black hole, right?
Not right.
A black hole forms or not according to how large the rest mass is, not the relativistic mass.
 
  • #3
friend said:
According to Special Relativity, objects moving fast have more mass than objects at rest.
This statement is common, but wrong. Moving objects have more relativistic mass, but their rest mass is unchanged. Modern usage (i.e. pretty much any paper in the last half century) is that "mass" means rest mass, and relativistic mass is pretty much never used. It's just total energy divided by ##c^2## anyway, and calling it mass leads to confusion of the type you have here.

Pop sci is more concerned wigh sounding cool and less concerned with clear communication, so has yet to catch up with that.
friend said:
How can an object both be a black hole and not be a black hole?
It can't. Gravity in relativity does not depend on relativistic mass, and people assuming it is basically Newtonian gravity with relativistic mass plugged in is one more reason to abandon the concept. The source term for gravity in relativity is the stress-energy tensor, which includes mass and other terms related to momentum and pressure. But they don't simply add to the mass in any naive way.
 

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 happens when a massive star dies and collapses in on itself, creating a singularity with an incredibly strong gravitational field.

2. How are black holes formed?

Black holes are formed when a massive star dies and its core collapses due to its own gravity. As the star's fuel runs out, it can no longer sustain its own weight and collapses, leading to the formation of a black hole.

3. How does relativity play a role in black holes?

Relativity, specifically Einstein's theory of general relativity, helps us understand the behavior of black holes. It explains how gravity works in extreme conditions, such as near a black hole, where the laws of physics as we know them break down.

4. Can anything escape from a black hole?

No, nothing can escape from a black hole, including light. This is because the gravitational pull of a black hole is so strong that it traps everything, even light, within its event horizon.

5. Are there different types of black holes?

Yes, there are three main types of black holes - stellar, intermediate, and supermassive. Stellar black holes are formed from the collapse of massive stars, intermediate black holes are thought to be a result of multiple smaller black holes merging, and supermassive black holes are found at the centers of galaxies and are millions or even billions of times more massive than the sun.

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