Help in Understanding Black Holes

In summary, a black hole is a highly compressed core of a high-mass star that emits no radiation and has a gravitational pull so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. Its formation is a result of the star's collapse and the required escape speed exceeding the speed of light. It is not recommended to rely on forums for accurate information and instead, sources like Wikipedia or Google should be consulted.
  • #1
PhyStudent20
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Can someone please explain what a black hole is? I hear everyone speaking about it but have no idea what it is.
Is it something where even speed of light becomes 0? How?
 
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  • #2
PhyStudent20 said:
Can someone please explain what a black hole is? I hear everyone speaking about it but have no idea what it is.
Is it something where even speed of light becomes 0? How?
You can search in google.
 
  • #3
PhyStudent20 said:
Can someone please explain what a black hole is? I hear everyone speaking about it but have no idea what it is.
Is it something where even speed of light becomes 0? How?

Emmanuel_Euler said:
You can search in google.

Indeed. PF is a poor substitute for an encyclopedia or other source of general information about a subject. Try searching 'Black Hole' in wikipedia, reading the article, and then coming back here if you have specific questions. Google is also a good source of information IF you can avoid any pseudoscience.
 
  • #4
A black hole forms when a high-mass star dies. It basically emits no radiation (light) hence the name black hole. It's gravitational field is so strong that matter in its vicinity gets pulled in and lost forever. Nothing can escape its gravitational pull - not even light.

I'm sorry I just skimmed through your post and didn't even read the last question. Since speed of light is the fastest speed allowed in physics, which means nothing can exceed the speed of light. There is a concept called escape speed, which is the speed needed for one object to escape from the gravitational pull of another object. An object's escape speed is proportional to the square of the body's mass divided by the square root of its radius. So the more compressed an object is, the more escape speed is needed to escape that object's gravitational pull. Now a black hole is basically the core of a high-mass star that collapsed on itself and is compressed down to a point where even the required escape speed exceeds the speed of light. But remember, nothing can exceed the speed of light since it is the fastest allowed speed in physics. Therefore, the conclusion is nothing can escape from that compressed object, or in other words, a black hole.
 
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I've had to remove multiple posts from this thread whose information is almost entirely wrong or have been crackpot theories. Time to lock this thread.
 
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1. What is a black hole?

A black hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. This is because the mass of a black hole is concentrated in a single point, known as the singularity, and the gravity is so strong that it warps space and time around it.

2. How are black holes formed?

Black holes are formed when a massive star dies and collapses in on itself. The star's core becomes so dense that it creates a gravitational pull that is strong enough to trap everything, including light, within its event horizon, which is the point of no return.

3. What is the event horizon of a black hole?

The event horizon is the point at which the gravitational pull of a black hole becomes so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. It is often referred to as the "point of no return" as anything that crosses the event horizon is trapped within the black hole.

4. How do scientists study black holes?

Scientists study black holes using a variety of methods, including observing the effects of their gravity on surrounding matter, analyzing the radiation emitted from the accretion disk around the black hole, and studying the gravitational waves produced by black hole mergers.

5. Can anything escape from a black hole?

As of now, according to our current understanding of physics, nothing can escape from a black hole once it has crossed the event horizon. However, some theories suggest that there may be a way for information to escape from a black hole, but this is still a topic of ongoing research and debate among scientists.

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