Black Hole & Wormhole: Questions Answered

In summary, without a proper theory about wormholes, it is impossible to accurately answer these questions. However, based on the current understanding of wormholes, it is likely that a black hole would collapse a wormhole if it travels into it, and if two mouths of the same wormhole were to collide, they would either coalesce or separate depending on their masses.
  • #1
Superposed_Cat
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Hi, two questions
A) If a black hole travels into a wormhole would it collapse the wormhole?
B) If a wormhole travels through another wormhole what would happen?
Thanks for any help.
 
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  • #2
Without a proper theory about wormholes, this is impossible to answer.
 
  • #3
A) If a black hole travels into a wormhole would it collapse the wormhole?

Short answer: Generally, yes.
Longer answer: Depends on the mass of the black hole relative to that of the wormhole. It also depends on the so-called equation of state of the exotic matter that sustains the wormhole. However, as a rule of thumb you would expect a black hole, whose mass is very much smaller than that of the wormhole, not to collapse the wormhole. Conversely, if the black hole's mass is very much larger, it would almost certainly collapse the wormhole.

B) If a wormhole travels through another wormhole what would happen?

Here's an excerpt from this Wormhole FAQ

What would happen if two mouths of the same wormhole were to collide?
After the collision identical mouths would 1) coalesce, if their masses are positive, or 2) separate, if their masses are negative. Upon coalescing, the wormhole’s shape would be something like the three-dimensional generalization of the surface of an eye screw (Figure 1.2). A traveler could enter the single mouth of the wormhole, travel the length of its interior region, and exit the mouth only to discover that she is back where she started.

image002.jpg



Figure 1.2. A wormhole Self Collision. Mouths will likely coalesce.

The FAQ seems to be taken from The Physics of Stargates -- Parallel Universes, Time Travel and the Enigma of Wormhole Physics by Enrico Rodrigo.
 
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What is a black hole?

A black hole is a region of space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, including light, can escape from it. It is formed when a massive star collapses under its own gravity.

How is a black hole different from a wormhole?

A black hole is a one-way path, where anything that enters cannot escape. A wormhole, on the other hand, connects two distant points in space and could potentially allow for travel between them.

Can we see a black hole?

We cannot see a black hole directly, since light cannot escape from it. However, we can observe the effects of a black hole on its surroundings, such as the distortion of light and the movement of stars and gas around it.

What happens if you enter a black hole?

If you were to enter a black hole, you would experience extreme gravitational forces, known as spaghettification, which would stretch you out into a long, thin shape. Eventually, you would reach the singularity, the point of infinite density, where the laws of physics as we know them break down.

Is time travel possible through a wormhole?

Some theories suggest that traversable wormholes could potentially allow for time travel, but this has not been proven and remains purely theoretical at this point.

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