Black Hole Collision: What Would Happen?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hypothetical scenario of black hole collisions, particularly focusing on the implications of such events, including the effects of speed and the nature of singularities. Participants explore theoretical aspects, potential outcomes, and the physics involved in black hole interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that black holes cannot travel at the speed of light due to their mass.
  • Gravitational waves are mentioned as a likely result of black hole collisions, with references to LIGO's observations.
  • There is a suggestion that the speed of collision may influence the energy output in gravitational waves, but the fundamental nature of the collision remains unchanged.
  • One participant questions how a larger black hole could tear apart a smaller one, given that both have singularities with zero volume.
  • Another participant raises the idea that if two black holes are of equal size, they may absorb each other indefinitely without actually colliding, leading to a discussion on the concept of infinite time in this context.
  • Concerns are expressed about the effects of non-fusing masses on surrounding matter, with references to the behavior of hot gas in the vicinity of black holes.
  • Some participants discuss the nature of the event horizon and the time it takes for objects to cross it, with differing views on whether this process takes an infinite amount of time or not.
  • There is a consensus that from an external perspective, black holes appear to merge in a finite time, while from within, the process may seem infinite.
  • A participant mentions that even at lesser velocities than light speed, black hole collisions could have observable consequences.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the nature of black hole collisions, the implications of speed, and the concept of time in relation to singularities. No consensus is reached on several key points, particularly regarding the effects of merging and the interpretation of infinite time.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions involve assumptions about the nature of singularities and the behavior of spacetime, which may not be fully resolved. The conversation also touches on the complexities of reference frames and their implications for understanding black hole interactions.

jontyjashan
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what would happen if a black hole collides with a black hole with the speed of light
 
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jontyjashan said:
what would happen if a black hole collides with a black hole with the speed of light

Hi jontyjashan! :smile:

Black holes have mass, and so can't travel at the speed of light.
 
Gravitational waves will probably be the result, isn't this what LIGO is looking for?
 
jontyjashan said:
what would happen if a black hole collides with a black hole with the speed of light

Any black hole collision results in the fusing of the singularites and gravitational waves. I'm guessing the faster they collide, the more energy is probably put into the gravitational waves. So, nothing really special would happen. Tiny Tim is right though... nothing with mass can travel at speed c.
 
Well if u ignore the fact that if would take an "infinite" amount of time (well even longer cause there are two black holes) for them to abosorb into each other. Wouldnt the larger black hole tear apart the smaller one. How do u tear apart something with a volume a zero? Now say that are the same size wouldn't they just absorb each other for an actually infinite amount of time, transfering mass to each other at the same rate while never colliding? Only appearing to fuse but never doing so.
 
d0wnl0w said:
Well if u ignore the fact that if would take an "infinite" amount of time (well even longer cause there are two black holes) for them to abosorb into each other. Wouldnt the larger black hole tear apart the smaller one. How do u tear apart something with a volume a zero? Now say that are the same size wouldn't they just absorb each other for an actually infinite amount of time, transfering mass to each other at the same rate while never colliding? Only appearing to fuse but never doing so.

From who's reference frame are you talking about?

It happens, black holes fuse. The singularities orbit each other until they fuse.
 
Well i know this is stupid, but from our referance they would appear to fuse. Also from our referance they never actually fuse because it would take an infinity to reach that point. My curiosity is would the masses not fusing have noticable effects on the orbiting masses or hot gas (forgot what its called exactly). Maybe I am just confused on the infinity it would take the masses to reach each other relative to us. Or has that theory changed. I never really like the idea of infinite time anyway.
 
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d0wnl0w said:
Well i know this is stupid, but from our referance they would appear to fuse. Also from our referance they never actually fuse because it would take an infinity to reach that point. My curiosity is would the masses not fusing have noticable effects on the orbiting masses or hot gas (forgot what its called exactly). Maybe I am just confused on the infinity it would take the masses to reach each other relative to us. Or has that theory changed.

I was always under the assumption that the fusing of two singularities took a finite time.
 
Well from my understanding if light cannot escape (aka event horizon) then the curve of spacetime at that point is in fact infinite. However from what I read the acceleratrion of the falling object would allow it to pass the event horizon. I read some more sources on the Schwarzschild solution to the gravitational field and it does not take an infinite time to cross the event horizon only to merge with the singularity itself. So I am guessing the singularities would never merge they would just be very close so the effect on gravitational pull would be negliable.
 
  • #10
d0wnl0w said:
Well from my understanding if light cannot escape (aka event horizon) then the curve of spacetime at that point is in fact infinite. However from what I read the acceleratrion of the falling object would allow it to pass the event horizon. I read some more sources on the Schwarzschild solution to the gravitational field and it does not take an infinite time to cross the event horizon only to merge with the singularity itself. So I am guessing the singularities would never merge they would just be very close so the effect on gravitational pull would be negliable.

I'm not sure on this. I'll do some reading. I better get to bed. It's 3 am where I am now.
 
  • #11
lol me too~Chi-town
 
  • #12
d0wnl0w said:
Well from my understanding if light cannot escape (aka event horizon) then the curve of space time at that point is in fact infinite. However from what I read the acceleration of the falling object would allow it to pass the event horizon. I read some more sources on the Schwarzschild solution to the gravitational field and it does not take an infinite time to cross the event horizon only to merge with the singularity itself. So I'm guessing the singularities would never merge they would just be very close so the effect on gravitational pull would be negliable.

Shouldn't in our view it fuses but in the view of the black holes they never get to fuses because it takes infinite time?
 
  • #13
Bright Wang said:
Shouldn't in our view it fuses but in the view of the black holes they never get to fuses because it takes infinite time?

This is correct. Time is infinite from the reference frame of within the black hole. To us though, it is still finite. So, yes, they merge in a finite amount of time from our perspective.
 

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