Black Holes: Mass, Schwarzschild Radius & Size

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A black hole is defined by its event horizon, which gives it a measurable size, while the singularity at its center, if it exists, is theorized to have no size. The complexities of spacetime curvature make it difficult to determine the actual volume of a black hole. Non-rotating black holes are considered perfect spheres with a radius equal to their Schwarzschild radius, while rotating black holes take on an oblate spheroid shape. The discussion highlights the contradictions in defining singularities, noting that while some are treated as mathematical points, others possess dimensions that complicate their classification. Overall, the nature of black holes remains a challenging topic in physics, intertwining quantum theory and general relativity.
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If a black hole is a stellar structure that has collapsed on itself to a singularity does that mean it has no size? But is so defined by its mass and schwarzschild radius?
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The black hole has a size defined by the event horizon. The actual volume and such is a bit more complicated to determine due to spacetime curvature I believe. A singularity, IF it exists at all, would have no size.
 
Current physical theory is unable to accurately describe what is going on inside the event horizon of a black hole. Quantum theory and general relativity don't mesh, and they both come into play.
 
The thing to realize is that the term 'black hole' doesn't mean: 'the bit at the center where all of the mass is concentrated, that may or may not be a singularity'.

'black hole' refers to the whole volume inside the event horizon, which clearly can have a radius, surface area and volume.

my understanding is that non-rotating black holes are perfect spheres with a radii equal to their Schwarzschild radius, and that rotating black holes are distorted into oblate spheroids, as are most rotating stellar objects.
 
Drakkith said:
The black hole has a size defined by the event horizon. The actual volume and such is a bit more complicated to determine due to spacetime curvature I believe. A singularity, IF it exists at all, would have no size.

A Schwarzschild black hole singularity is a mathematical point, yes, and so is a Nordström black hole singularity. But Kerr and Newman black hole singularities are one dimensional - they have no thickness, but they have circumference, radius etc.
 
How can it be one dimensional with a circumference and a radius? does that make it 2 dimensional?
 
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