Help with Black Holes: Determining Energy at Distance r

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter zzzaaaappp
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Black holes Holes
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the energy of a mass spiraling into a black hole, specifically at a distance r from the black hole. The user is confused about whether to consider kinetic energy or total energy in this context. It is established that the total energy remains zero due to the conservation of energy principle, similar to its state at infinity. The key takeaway is that for an object orbiting a black hole, the total energy is conserved and remains constant at zero.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of black hole physics
  • Familiarity with conservation of energy principles
  • Basic knowledge of classical mechanics
  • Concept of gravitational potential energy
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the Schwarzschild solution in General Relativity
  • Learn about the energy-momentum tensor in the context of black holes
  • Explore the concept of effective potential in orbital mechanics
  • Research the dynamics of objects in gravitational fields
USEFUL FOR

Students of astrophysics, physicists interested in gravitational theories, and anyone studying the dynamics of black holes and energy conservation in extreme gravitational fields.

zzzaaaappp
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
I have a question about black holes and energy but have no idea what to do. if someone could just point me in the right direction.

the question asks to consider a mass spiraling into a black hole, starting with energy E=0 at infinity. I have to determine E of the object when orbiting the black hole at distance r classically. I'm just stuck right now, not sure what is wrong.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
The kinetic energy E, or the total energy? The total energy is trivial: because of the conservation of energy, total energy is 0, just as it was when it was at infinity.
 

Similar threads

High School I Need Help on Understanding Some Basic Astrophysics / Sand Clock Universe
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Stargazing Dark matter and its effect on the orbit of stars
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Undergrad Would it be possible for a black hole to have a "solar system"?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad The initial density of an object and its compression into a black hole
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
Undergrad Light curving around vortex simulating a black hole
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Graduate Black holes: merged remnants have similar spin - why?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Undergrad Are Two Supermassive Black Holes on a Collision Course?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School What is dark matter?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
High School What is the definition of a black hole?
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
6K
Undergrad Black Hole Event Horizon Hypothesis
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K