A Beginner's Guide to Learning About Black Holes

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Owen-
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Black holes Holes
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding resources for beginners interested in learning about black holes, including the necessary background in relativity and mathematics. Participants share recommendations for books and resources, while also addressing the prerequisites needed to understand the topic effectively.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a beginner's guide to black holes, indicating a willingness to learn quickly.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of understanding relativity before delving into black holes, suggesting that a solid foundation in physics and mathematics is necessary.
  • Several book recommendations are made, including "Black Holes and Time Warps" by Kip S. Thorne and "General Relativity from A to B" by Robert Geroch.
  • Participants discuss the prerequisites for understanding black holes, with some suggesting that a qualitative understanding is possible without advanced knowledge.
  • One participant expresses curiosity about Hawking radiation and seeks clarification on the processes occurring at the event horizon.
  • Additional book suggestions include "Spacetime Physics" and "Exploring Black Holes" by Taylor and Wheeler, which are noted for their accessibility and focus on problem-solving.
  • A participant mentions a course in Theoretical Mechanics and seeks tutorials related to that subject.
  • Another participant recommends Schutz' "A Short Course in General Relativity" for a mathematically-supported understanding of black holes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the necessity of understanding relativity to grasp black holes, but there are varying opinions on the level of prior knowledge required. Multiple book recommendations are provided, but no consensus on a single best resource is reached.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the dependence on prior knowledge of calculus and physics, indicating that the recommendations may not suit all beginners. The discussion reflects a range of educational backgrounds and learning preferences.

Owen-
Messages
40
Reaction score
0
Does anyone know where I might find a good beginners guide to black holes?

I know its a big topic to start from scratch - but I'm a quick learner.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
What is your current level of education? There are textbooks that I could recommend, but you'd need University maths to be able to understand them. Black holes are a prediction of relativity so to really understand them you first need to understand relativity, which requires quite a bit of pre-requisite physics and maths knowledge.

On the other hand if you haven't got that knowledge yet, you can still get a decent qualitative understanding of black holes, but the appropriate references to point you towards would be different. Let's us know you current level and we can give you better advice.
 
Black Holes and Time Warps - Kip S. Thorne
 
Im not at uni just yet sadly. I know bits about relativity but not much - so I am guessing i should start there first - Any links to sites, or good books on relativity then? (thanks Riogho anyway)

Cheers
 
Owen- said:
Im not at uni just yet sadly. I know bits about relativity but not much - so I am guessing i should start there first - Any links to sites, or good books on relativity then? (thanks Riogho anyway)

Cheers

Try General Relativity from A to B by Robert Geroch.
 
George Jones said:
Try General Relativity from A to B by Robert Geroch.

i have heard about hawking radiation but want to know that vat exactly happens at the event horizon that emits hawking radiation ?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Owen- said:
Im not at uni just yet sadly. I know bits about relativity but not much - so I am guessing i should start there first - Any links to sites, or good books on relativity then? (thanks Riogho anyway)

Cheers

If you know calculus (derivatives, differentials, integrals) and want to actually be able to solve problems not just read some popular fluff, the two most appropriate books to start with are

Spacetime Physics, Taylor and Wheeler - covers special relativity, spacetime without gravity
Exploring Black Holes, Taylor and Wheeler - covers black holes which are just a single chapter in general relativity, doesn't use tensors at all
 
Last edited:
Does anyone knows where i can get tutorials for this course I'm doing in my physics major, THEORETICAL MECHANICS?
 
  • #10
Look into Schutz' "A Short Course in General Relativity." It's very readable by anyone with experience with basic calculus. By the end of it you'll have a much deeper, mathematically-supported understanding of black holes.

- Warren
 

Similar threads

High School Analogue Black Holes: Disposal?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School I Need Help on Understanding Some Basic Astrophysics / Sand Clock Universe
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
High School How Can Black Holes Vary in Size if They Are Singularities?
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
High School AI Enhanced image of M87 black hole
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K
High School Ultramassive Black Hole (UMB), 30 billion solar masses?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
High School How would physics change if Planet 9 were a primordial black hole?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad The initial density of an object and its compression into a black hole
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
High School So, a black hole and an antimatter star bump into each other....
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
High School Is it possible for a giant star to have a black hole inside it?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
High School Observational bias? Lack of massive black hole observations....
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K