Can one black hole consume another black hole?

[bayan]

Hi there. I just have a question about black holes.

Would a black hole be able to suck-in another black hole?

 

[ray b]

as a star that went super nova is the starting point of a black hole and there is a limit to the size of a star and so a limit to the size of the resulting black hole BUT we have super masive black hole as galitic center objects
therefor it is very likely that they do combine but there is no sucking to the deal just normal gravity at work

btw I think this process results in a quazar while the two [or more ] black holes are
moveing at high speeds thru each others disks of matter that they each have around them
as I cannot see simple infalling matter supplying the required energy

 

[bayan]

is there a limit of how much matter it can suck in?

 

[ray b]

is there a limit of how much matter it can suck in?

no limits but [well a bigger BH would not infall to a smaller one]
they do NOT suck
they have mass that has the very same gravity as any other lump that has the same mass

and mostlikely something other then the simple infall of stuff is seen in the
growth to super massive size as exists in the central galixcys black holes we see today

 

[Phobos]

Yes, 2 (or more) black holes can combine into 1 larger black hole. IIRC, the new black hole has slightly less mass than the sum of the 2 black holes that formed it due to energy loss through gravitational waves.

No known upper mass limit for a black hole.

 

[Danger]

No known upper mass limit for a black hole.

Unless I missed something somewhere along the line, I believe that the total mass of the universe would be the defining limit. That's essentially the thinking behind the 'Big Crunch' proposal, isn't it? If the limit were lower, such a thing would never have been suggested in the first place.

 

[ray b]

Yes, 2 (or more) black holes can combine into 1 larger black hole. IIRC, the new black hole has slightly less mass than the sum of the 2 black holes that formed it due to energy loss through gravitational waves.

No known upper mass limit for a black hole.

I thought from reading posts here that
there is a gain in total mass
from relitiveistic effects of the high speeds reached
as the two BH sprial into each other at near light speeds

 

[Labguy]

I thought from reading posts here that
there is a gain in total mass
from relitiveistic effects of the high speeds reached
as the two BH sprial into each other at near light speeds

No, Phobos is correct.

 

[Phobos]

Unless I missed something somewhere along the line, I believe that the total mass of the universe would be the defining limit. That's essentially the thinking behind the 'Big Crunch' proposal, isn't it? If the limit were lower, such a thing would never have been suggested in the first place.

Ok, the total available mass in the universe is an upper limit.
But a black hole is an object set within spacetime whereas a Big Crunch would consume all of spacetime as well.

 

[Danger]

Ok, the total available mass in the universe is an upper limit.
But a black hole is an object set within spacetime whereas a Big Crunch would consume all of spacetime as well.

Good point... but it would still be a swell name for a candy bar.