Is light speed faster coming from a smaller star?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of light in relation to gravitational forces, specifically addressing whether light speed varies based on the gravitational pull of a star. It is established that gravity does not slow light; instead, light consistently travels at the speed of light (c). The phenomenon of gravitational lensing is introduced, illustrating how black holes alter the path of light rather than its speed. Additionally, it is clarified that light cannot escape a black hole due to extreme spacetime curvature, resulting in redshift and loss of energy.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of general relativity and its implications on light behavior
  • Familiarity with the concept of gravitational lensing
  • Knowledge of black hole physics, particularly event horizons
  • Basic principles of redshift and energy loss in light
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of general relativity and its effects on light propagation
  • Explore the mechanics of gravitational lensing and its observational evidence
  • Study the characteristics of black holes, focusing on event horizons and singularities
  • Investigate the phenomenon of redshift and its implications in astrophysics
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy enthusiasts, astrophysicists, and students studying general relativity and black hole physics will benefit from this discussion.

PaulRacer
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If gravity slows light, would light be pushed faster away from a star that has less gravitational pull? Would we still observe it at c?
 
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What about black holes?
 
What about them?

[edit] And to save some time, does my previous post have anything to say about this question...?
 
Last edited:
PaulRacer said:
What about black holes?

I'm pretty amateur about all this but even I know that black holes don't slow light, they change it's path. The effect is called gravitionally lensing.

Now when it comes to light not being able to escape a black hole... I'm not sure why that happens...
 
Exactly the same reason. Spacetime is bent so strongly around a black hole that the start and endpoint of a light rays path is within the event horizon, any light leaving the 'surface' of the black hole will be bent back onto it.
 
Salbris said:
I'm pretty amateur about all this but even I know that black holes don't slow light, they change it's path. The effect is called gravitionally lensing.

Now when it comes to light not being able to escape a black hole... I'm not sure why that happens...

Light traveling directly outward from the black hole is redshifted so much it loses all of its energy. Light traveling at an angle out from the black hole is bent back in towards the black hole.
 
Ok, sorry for the wasted space. Light travels at c...no exceptions. Thanks!
 

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