Atoms, Black Holes: Solving 2 Problems with 1 Theory?

In summary, the conversation discusses the relationship between the laws of physics and the behavior of matter at an atomic level and around black holes. The participants also consider the possibility of black holes being related to atoms and the concept of infinite density within black holes. However, it is concluded that the conditions inside black holes are not comparable to those within an atomic nucleus and that there is still much unknown about the behavior of matter at both the infinitely small and infinitely massive scales.
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tony169
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TL;DR Summary
Are black holes atoms?
The laws of physics breaks down at an atomic level, it also breaks down around black holes.

could the two be related? could a black hole be an atom with a periodic number in the (insert ridiculous number here) ?

If it were true that black holes where atoms / elements it'd turn two problems into one.
 
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tony169 said:
The laws of physics breaks down at an atomic level

No they don't. The known laws of physics don't break down until well below the scale of atoms. Atomic-scale interactions and behavior are extremely well known and our theories make extremely accurate predictions at that scale.

tony169 said:
could the two be related? could a black hole be an atom with a periodic number in the (insert ridiculous number here) ?

No, absolutely not. Atoms can't have more than a certain number of protons in their nuclei without becoming unstable due to the repulsion of said protons. So once you reach lead, anything after it is unstable, and the general trend is a decreasing stability as atomic number increases. That's why the elements with the largest known atomic numbers are so hard to synthesize and study. They all decay in fractions of a second!
 
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With respect, we really have no clue about the infinitely small and the infinitely massive, math does not work here.

But if matter in a black hole is compacted into infinite density, would that not be an atomic core?
 
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  • #4
tony169 said:
With respect, we really have no clue about the infinitely small and the infinitely massive, math does not work here.

We are talking about neither infinitely small things nor infinitely massive things. Atoms and subatomic particles have non-zero interaction ranges (I say that instead of 'size' because size is a complicated issue when it comes to fundamental particles) while black holes do not have infinite mass.

tony169 said:
But if matter in a black hole is compacted into infinite density, would that not be an atomic core?

No, not at all. The nucleus of an atom is comprised of protons and neutrons in a bound state, which are themselves composed of quarks and gluons. Just looking at a neutron star we run into a situation where we find a 'sea' of free neutrons and protons in the middle regions of the star and quite possibly a quark-gluon plasma in the middle of the core. Neither of these match the conditions of an atomic nucleus.

The conditions inside a black hole are even more extreme, and are likely to create states of matter that we've never seen before and that are nothing like atomic nuclei.
 
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  • #5
tony169 said:
With respect, we really have no clue about the infinitely small and the infinitely massive, math does not work here.

But if matter in a black hole is compacted into infinite density, would that not be an atomic core?
No, and no.

You're speculating wildly and apparently not interested in learning what is actually known, where it differs from your speculations. No point in continuing. Thread locked.
 
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FAQ: Atoms, Black Holes: Solving 2 Problems with 1 Theory?

What is the theory that solves both the problems of atoms and black holes?

The theory that solves both the problems of atoms and black holes is the theory of quantum gravity. This theory combines the principles of quantum mechanics and general relativity to explain the behavior of both atoms and black holes.

How does the theory of quantum gravity explain the behavior of atoms?

The theory of quantum gravity explains the behavior of atoms by describing the interactions between subatomic particles, such as electrons and protons, in terms of quantum mechanics. This allows for a more accurate understanding of the behavior of atoms at a microscopic level.

How does the theory of quantum gravity explain the behavior of black holes?

The theory of quantum gravity explains the behavior of black holes by incorporating the principles of general relativity to describe the curvature of spacetime around massive objects. This theory also helps to explain the phenomenon of Hawking radiation, which is the emission of particles from a black hole.

What are the potential implications of a theory that solves both the problems of atoms and black holes?

A theory that solves both the problems of atoms and black holes has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe. It could also lead to new technologies and advancements in fields such as space exploration and quantum computing.

Is the theory of quantum gravity widely accepted by the scientific community?

While the theory of quantum gravity is still being studied and developed, it is gaining more support and acceptance within the scientific community. Many physicists believe that this theory is crucial in order to fully understand the behavior of the universe at both a microscopic and macroscopic level.

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