Light & Black Holes: Can Massless Light be Sucked?

In summary, light can be affected by gravity according to Einstein's theory of general relativity. It can also be sucked into a black hole due to the strong gravitational pull. However, light cannot create a black hole as it has no mass. Black holes can also bend light through gravitational lensing, but once light passes the event horizon, it cannot escape due to the intense gravitational pull.
  • #1
anthonych414
86
0
Hello, I have a question, since light has no mass how can it be sucked by a black hole, doesn't anything with no mass have zero weight (W=mg), or are photons somehow attracted to black holes?
 
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  • #2
Please read Msg. #8 in the FAQ thread in the General Physics forum.

Zz.
 

1. Can light be affected by gravity?

Yes, light can be affected by gravity. According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, gravity is the curvature of space-time caused by the presence of mass or energy. Light, which has energy, can therefore be affected by gravity.

2. Can light be sucked into a black hole?

Yes, light can be sucked into a black hole. Black holes have such strong gravitational pull that even light cannot escape from them. This is because the escape velocity (the speed needed to escape the gravitational pull) of a black hole is greater than the speed of light.

3. Can a black hole be created by light?

No, a black hole cannot be created by light. Black holes are formed when a massive star collapses under its own gravity. Light, which has no mass, cannot collapse and therefore cannot create a black hole.

4. Can a black hole bend light?

Yes, a black hole can bend light. This is known as gravitational lensing and it occurs because the strong gravitational pull of a black hole can bend the path of light rays passing by it.

5. Can light escape from a black hole?

No, light cannot escape from a black hole. The event horizon, the point of no return for objects entering a black hole, prevents even light from escaping. Beyond the event horizon, the gravitational pull is so strong that not even light can escape.

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