Light travelling towards a black hole

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter jamesbolt
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Black hole Hole Light
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Light traveling towards a black hole experiences significant changes in its properties due to the intense gravitational field. The discussion clarifies that the increase in energy does not lead to infinite wavelength but rather highlights the distinction between the central singularity and the event horizon. The event horizon marks the boundary beyond which light cannot escape, while the singularity represents the point of infinite density. Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping the behavior of light in extreme gravitational environments.

PREREQUISITES
  • General Relativity principles
  • Understanding of black hole structures
  • Concept of event horizon
  • Basics of electromagnetic wave behavior
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of General Relativity on light behavior near massive objects
  • Explore the differences between singularities and event horizons in black holes
  • Learn about gravitational lensing and its effects on light from distant stars
  • Investigate the properties of electromagnetic waves in strong gravitational fields
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy enthusiasts, physicists, and students studying astrophysics who seek to understand the complex interactions between light and black holes.

jamesbolt
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
I think I am wrong in what I am about to say so I someone could explain relatively simply where I went wrong I would be thankful...

When light travels towards a black hole it's wavelength increases it's frequency and decreases it's wavelength due to the increase in energy. Because a black hole is infinitely dense when light gets close enough the energy provided by the infinite density (ie infinite energy) would mean the wavelengths would get infinitely close...

If this is true then theoretically there should be a boundary of electromagnet energy that cannot get closer because the wavelength is infinitely close...
Is this true? Or have I missed something?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
jamesbolt said:
Because a black hole is infinitely dense...

You are confusing the central singularity with the event horizon.
 

Similar threads

High School Black hole electromagnetic spectrum
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Can light be reflected in a black hole?
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
Undergrad You can't actually enter a blackhole?
  • · Replies 40 ·
2
Replies
40
Views
4K
Undergrad What is the Connection Between Black Holes and the Big Bang?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
High School Is there a white hole inside every black hole?
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
High School Theories about light and time near a black hole
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
Undergrad Looking closely at the descent into a black hole
  • · Replies 51 ·
2
Replies
51
Views
2K
Undergrad Do any real macroscopic black holes have a singularity?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
High School How do Black Holes Grow? A Far-Away Observer's Perspective
  • · Replies 67 ·
3
Replies
67
Views
6K
Undergrad Falling through the event horizon of an evaporating black hole
  • · Replies 51 ·
2
Replies
51
Views
6K