Black Hole Creation at Near Light Speed? - Prof. Andrea Ghez

In summary, during a presentation by Prof. Andrea Ghez on black holes, a question was asked about whether a near light moving object could create a black hole due to its increased mass and reduced volume. However, it was clarified that black holes cannot be described using concepts of special relativity and relativistic mass, which is no longer used by physicists. The source of spacetime curvature in general relativity is the stress energy tensor.
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jobyts
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Yesterday, I attended the following presentation by Prof. Andrea Ghez.

https://www.meetup.com/physicists/events/236886090/?gj=co2&rv=co2

In the Q&A session towards the end, there was a question she fumbled to give a proper answer.

She mentioned that as long as the mass is compressed into within the Schwarzschild radius, any mass could turn into a black hole.
She gave the exact presentation as in .
See between 8:10-9:00.

The question from the audience was, if an object travels at near speed of light, the mass increases, volume reduces. So, will a near light moving object create a black hole?

https://www.quora.com/Relativity-physics-Does-relativistic-mass-have-gravity
says the relativistic mass does have gravity.
 
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  • #2
And this, boys and girls, is why we no longer use the concept of "relativistic mass".

Zz.
 
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First of all, any attempt at trying to deal with a black hole mixing concepts of special relativity and "mass based" gravity is doomed. Black holes cannot be described in the flat spacetime of SR, nor is mass the source of spacetime curvature in GR - the stress energy tensor is.

Second, as already mentioned, relativistic mass has been the cause of probably almost as many misunderstandings of SR as the relativity of simultaneity. It is also an archaic concept that is not really used by practicing physicists.
 
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FAQ: Black Hole Creation at Near Light Speed? - Prof. Andrea Ghez

1. What is a black hole and how is it created at near light speed?

A black hole is a region of space where the gravitational pull is so strong that even light cannot escape from it. It is created when a massive star dies and collapses in on itself, or when two neutron stars merge together. At near light speed, the intense gravitational force compresses the matter within the star even further, resulting in a singularity, which is the point of infinite density at the center of a black hole.

2. How does the creation of a black hole at near light speed affect the surrounding space?

The creation of a black hole at near light speed has a significant impact on the surrounding space. The intense gravitational pull of the black hole can distort and warp the fabric of space-time, causing objects to orbit around it. It can also create strong gravitational lensing, where light from distant objects is bent and magnified as it passes through the black hole's gravitational field.

3. Can black holes be created artificially at near light speed?

Currently, there is no known way to create a black hole artificially at near light speed. The immense amount of energy required to accelerate an object to near light speed is beyond our current technological capabilities. Additionally, the extreme conditions necessary for black hole formation can only be found in the natural universe, such as in the core of a dying star.

4. What are the potential implications of black hole creation at near light speed?

The creation of black holes at near light speed has significant implications for our understanding of gravity and the laws of physics. It can also provide insights into the behavior of matter under extreme conditions. Furthermore, the study of black holes at near light speed can help us better understand the formation and evolution of galaxies, as black holes are thought to play a crucial role in their growth.

5. How is Prof. Andrea Ghez's research contributing to our understanding of black hole creation at near light speed?

Prof. Andrea Ghez is a world-renowned astrophysicist who has made significant contributions to our understanding of black holes, particularly in the study of the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. Through her groundbreaking research using state-of-the-art telescopes and techniques, she has provided valuable insights into the formation and behavior of black holes, including those formed at near light speed.

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