Is it possible for a black hole to eat an entire galaxy?

In summary, it is possible for a black hole to "eat" an entire galaxy, but it is not likely to happen. While the center of most galaxies may contain supermassive black holes, the stars in the galaxy are in stable orbits and there is no reason to believe they will be sucked in. This is similar to our own Sun, which will not "eat" everything in our solar system.
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Is it possible for a black hole to "eat" an entire galaxy?

Is it possible for a black hole to "eat" an entire galaxy?
 
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Is it possible for a black hole to "eat" an entire galaxy? If so, what about the 1% mass rule? It would seem at some point the universe would be nothing but black holes, thereby after succumbing to evaporation
 
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The universe is doomed.
 
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I guess it would be possible, but it wouldn't be likely. Black holes are not cosmic vacuum cleaners. They don't suck everything around them in. The are just really massive objects. So while the center of most galaxies are believed to contain supermassive black holes, the stars in the galaxy are in stable orbits around the center and there is no reason to expect those orbits to decay in any reasonable amount of time.

Consider this similar question: is our Sun going to "eat" everything in the solar system? No. It won't.
 

1. Can a black hole actually consume an entire galaxy?

Yes, it is theoretically possible for a black hole to consume an entire galaxy. However, this process would take a very long time and it is not a common occurrence.

2. How big would a black hole have to be to eat an entire galaxy?

A black hole would have to be extremely massive to consume an entire galaxy. This is because the gravity of a black hole is what pulls in matter, so the larger the black hole, the more matter it can consume.

3. What would happen to the stars and planets in the galaxy if a black hole consumed it?

If a black hole were to consume an entire galaxy, the stars and planets within the galaxy would be pulled into the black hole and crushed into its singularity. This process would release a tremendous amount of energy.

4. How do black holes grow and consume matter?

Black holes grow by pulling in matter from their surroundings. When matter gets too close to the black hole's event horizon, it gets pulled into the black hole and becomes part of its mass. This process is known as accretion.

5. Is it possible for a black hole to consume multiple galaxies?

Yes, it is possible for a black hole to consume multiple galaxies. This can happen when galaxies collide and their central black holes merge, creating a supermassive black hole that can consume more matter and grow even larger.

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