Light & Blackholes: Unraveling the Mysteries

In summary, the conversation discusses the concepts of light, black holes, redshifting, and polarizing glasses. It is explained that in Einstein's theory of general relativity, gravity is not a force but a curving of spacetime which affects the path of light. Redshifting is the observed phenomenon of light appearing more red when it is moving away from the observer, and polarizing glasses are used to filter out specific orientations of light waves. The conversation ends with a suggestion to research and read more about these topics, rather than having someone else do the work for them.
  • #1
Mr.maniac
38
0
Well read a post long ago about light

My questions are:

If light has no mass then how can it be suck in a black hole?

What exactly is redshifting?

What do polarizing glasses do?
 
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  • #2
Mr.maniac said:
If light has no mass then how can it be suck in a black hole?
In Einstein's theory of general relativity, gravity is not a force but a curving of spacetime.

Light follows straight lines (properly called geodesics) through curved spacetime which toward the black hole.

As for 'what is' questions, well, Wiki is a good primer.

Mr.maniac said:
What exactly is redshifting?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redshift

Mr.maniac said:
What do polarizing glasses do?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarization_(waves)
 
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  • #3
Thanx but don't quite get it "what is" questions perhaps you could simplify it.

(Also that what are the children forum and is it okay for a 7th grader like me).
 
  • #4
Assume a Badminton net tightly spread parallel to floor and above the floor.Assume it as flat space-time without force of gravitation.Now put a 1kg iron ball on it,it bends down a little to create slope around it like toilet .This is curvature of space time.
Now another smaller ball will go towards bigger ball due to curvature.
 
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  • #5
I really appreciate your answer but I also need to know about redshifting and polarizing
 
  • #6
I am beginning to suspect that this is for homework. We won't do your work for you.

Read the articles. See if you can make sense. If you're not sure, tell us what you can and we'll try to help.
 
  • #7
Maniac, just type in" What is the red shift? " into Google and then read.Easy as eating pie.
 

1. What is light and how does it travel?

Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye. It travels in a straight line at a speed of approximately 299,792,458 meters per second, which is the fastest speed possible in the universe.

2. How do blackholes form?

Blackholes are formed when a massive star dies and collapses under its own gravity. The core of the star becomes so dense that it creates a gravitational pull that is strong enough to trap even light.

3. Can anything escape a blackhole?

No, nothing can escape a blackhole once it has passed the event horizon, which is the point of no return. This includes light, making blackholes appear completely black to outside observers.

4. How do scientists study blackholes and their effects on light?

Scientists use a variety of methods to study blackholes, including analyzing the effects of gravitational lensing on light from distant objects, observing the movement of stars and gas near a blackhole, and detecting gravitational waves.

5. Why are blackholes important in understanding the universe?

Blackholes are important because they provide insights into the fundamental laws of physics and the nature of space and time. They also play a crucial role in the evolution and structure of galaxies, and their study can help us better understand the formation and behavior of the universe as a whole.

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