As I Was Looking At A Strange Black Hole Image I Wondered

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between black holes and wormholes, exploring whether black holes could be a cause of wormholes and examining the theoretical implications of such a connection. Participants engage with concepts from general relativity and the nature of spacetime, touching on both theoretical and speculative aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant wonders if black holes could cause wormholes, referencing an image that depicts shockwaves affecting the fabric of space.
  • Another participant asserts that black holes are one-way entities leading to oblivion, while wormholes are theoretical constructs requiring exotic matter to remain open.
  • A suggestion is made that both black holes and wormholes are solutions to the equations of general relativity, with black holes being physically realizable and wormholes remaining purely mathematical.
  • It is noted that while wormholes have not been observed, general relativity allows for their theoretical existence.
  • One participant proposes that the formation of a black hole might produce a white hole elsewhere, potentially connected by a wormhole.
  • Another viewpoint suggests that black holes may not be true singularities but rather states of highly compressed matter, expressing skepticism about the speculative nature of wormholes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the relationship between black holes and wormholes, with some agreeing on the theoretical aspects while others emphasize the speculative nature of wormholes. No consensus is reached regarding the validity of the proposed connections.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in current understanding, particularly regarding the existence of exotic matter and the observational status of wormholes. The discussion reflects a mix of theoretical exploration and skepticism about speculative ideas.

Kenton
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Hey! I'm new here and I just wanted to ask a question and maybe I'll come back here once I have started college in a week or so. :P But firstly I must say, at first I thought the confirmation question for signing up was a science question about acid and I was totally stumped. But that's PH... I think. Not PF. :| Here's my question...
I was looking at an image of a black hole and I thought... Could black holes be the 'cause of wormholes? In the image it showed shockwaves from black holes and it showed the fabric of space being flipped as if you pulled a carpet up and then forced it back down. Which is what wormholes are right? I might be very immature in this assumption I am just starting out in this world. So... Is that a good assumption or am I completely mental? ...and is there any actual theory out there about this?

EDIT:
While looking at the image more, I realized that a wormhole would only be around as long as the waves lasted, and since the waves go in all directions... This isn't very feasible. BUT! What if... What if they start to fade but then are kind of, brought back, by the next wave. Kind of like refresh rates on monitors.

EDIT:
I lot of holes in this... But I was just mildly thinking when I saw this and thought if there was an actual theory behind it.
 
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Astronomy news on Phys.org
A black hole is a one way ticket to oblivion. A wormhole is a special case that exists only in theory. It requires an exotic form of matter unknown to science to keep it open. A mathematical model merely implies a possibility. It is not necessarily realized in nature.
 
You might like the book "Black holes and Time Warps" by Kip S Thorne
It is not about the math, and paints a very beautiful image of the way black holes might look and behave. First non-fiction book I was completely sucked into, no pun intended :D
 
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I was really just wondering if there was a theory about wormholes and black holes being related.
 
Kenton said:
I was really just wondering if there was a theory about wormholes and black holes being related.

Both are possible solutions to the equations in General Relativity. It's just that black holes are thought to be possible in real life as well as in the math, whereas wormholes only exist in the math since they require non-existent matter to exist. It's important to understand that both are the result of spacetime curving in a particular way. A black hole isn't a "solid" object like a ball or the Earth is. It's simply the result of so much mass in so little volume that spacetime curves in such a way to make it so that there is no path that leads away from the center of the black hole.

Similarly, a wormhole is a particular type of curvature of spacetime, only it curves in such a way that if you enter the event horizon, you exit somewhere else.
 
Kenton said:
I was really just wondering if there was a theory about wormholes and black holes being related.

Although astronomers are not aware of the possible existence of wormholes ... they have never been observed, general relativity does allow for their validity

so trying to ask if there's a theory that wormholes and black holes are related is at this time is probably a bit of a stretch :wink:

Others more knowledgeable in the specifics may chime in

cheers
Dave
 
In the formation of a black hole a white hole may be produced "somewhere else" and a wormhole might connect the two.

http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/FAQ/question29.html
 
Perhaps black holes are just areas of space time where gravity is so strong as to prevent em radiation from escaping. And also the matter inside, instead of being a true singularity is just some unknown state of very highly compressed matter? Wormholes and the like are too speculative for me these days..
 
Tanelorn said:
Perhaps black holes are just areas of space time where gravity is so strong as to prevent em radiation from escaping. And also the matter inside, instead of being a true singularity is just some unknown state of very highly compressed matter? Wormholes and the like are too speculative for me these days..

That's the prevailing opinion of many astronomers. (or so I've been told)
 

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