1/2 kilogram black hole: thought experiment

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the theoretical concept of a black hole with a mass of 1/2 kilogram, exploring its radius and existence. Participants engage in calculations related to escape velocity and Hawking radiation, while considering various assumptions and conditions regarding black hole formation and longevity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a calculation for the radius of a black hole based on escape velocity, suggesting that a mass of 1/2 kilograms could create a black hole with a radius of approximately 9*10^{-16} meters.
  • Several participants express skepticism about the existence of a 1/2 kg black hole, with one noting that smaller black holes can exist but may evaporate quickly.
  • Another participant claims that black holes can exist at any mass but would evaporate almost instantly, providing a calculation that suggests a 500-gram black hole would have a very short lifespan.
  • A participant introduces the idea that environmental factors, such as cosmic radiation and dust, could prevent a small black hole from evaporating, suggesting that it could grow instead.
  • One participant discusses the hypothetical scenario of a 1-gram black hole in a particle accelerator, arguing it would evaporate almost instantaneously due to its environment.
  • A participant acknowledges an error in their earlier calculation regarding the escape velocity equation, noting the importance of including the gravitational constant (G) for accurate results.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the existence and stability of a 1/2 kg black hole, with multiple competing views regarding its potential to exist and the factors influencing its evaporation or growth.

Contextual Notes

Discussions include assumptions about the environment in which black holes exist, the role of Hawking radiation, and the implications of using different equations for escape velocity. Some calculations are noted to be incomplete or corrected during the discussion.

Thetes
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Greetings! Would this be a fair estimate to the radius of a black hole?

Assumptions: The equation for escape velocity is adequate for calculation of black hole radius.
\upsilon = \sqrt{\frac{2M}{r}}
Working from there, setting the desired velocity faster than light would mean nothing could get out. So, let \upsilon = 3*10^{8} and M = \frac{1}{2}
then 3*10^{8} = \sqrt{\frac{1}{r}}
so r = 9*10^{-16}

Could we then say anytime 1/2 kilograms are within a neighborhood of 9*10^{-16} meters there is a black hole?
 
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I don't think a 1/2 kg black hole can exist.
 
Curl said:
I don't think a 1/2 kg black hole can exist.

My understanding is that black holes smaller than that can exist, although though apparently they evaporate very quickly.
 
I'm pretty sure that black holes can exist at any mass but they evaporate almost instantly. Using this nifty black hole calculator we see that a black hole of 500 grams would have a radius of just 1,832,716 plank units (7.424258e-28 metres) and would exist for just 1.050898e-17 seconds.
 
ryan - if you are assuming the small BH exists in its own universe by itself, it may evaporate due to hawking radiation. however, in a universe filled with trillions of stars, cosmic dust, etc, any BH will be constantly bombarded with radiation, which adds energy/mass, as well as absorption of dust etc, which also adds energy/mass, which will greatly overcome any mass lost to hawking radiation. it will not evaprorate - it will only continue to grow.
 
jnorman said:
ryan - if you are assuming the small BH exists in its own universe by itself, it may evaporate due to hawking radiation. however, in a universe filled with trillions of stars, cosmic dust, etc, any BH will be constantly bombarded with radiation, which adds energy/mass, as well as absorption of dust etc, which also adds energy/mass, which will greatly overcome any mass lost to hawking radiation. it will not evaprorate - it will only continue to grow.

Well that depends on what media it is in doesn't it? For example if I create a hypothetical 1 gram black hole in an insanely powerful particle accelerator then it would evaporate in just 8.407183e-26 seconds, long before it passed through the accelerator's vacuum and hit the wall, even at traveling at near light speed.

Even floating in space it would be hard pressed to find anything, IIRC the density of interstellar space is somewhere near two hydrogen atoms per cubic metre.
 
Thanks for the references, and sorry I left out a term (G) in the original equation as well.

Thetes said:
\upsilon = \sqrt{\frac{2M}{r}}
/QUOTE]
should have been \upsilon = \sqrt{\frac{2GM}{r}}
Then letting \upsilon = c (rather than the earlier rounding) gives a much lower result mentioned by Ryan_m_b.

Thanks for the help clearing it up! It's amazing that Newton's formula would predict such a situation.
 

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