Photons effected by gravity of a Blackhole?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interaction between black holes and photons, specifically how black holes can "pull" in massless particles like photons and how photons can exert influence on massive particles such as gas clouds. The scope includes conceptual inquiries into gravity, spacetime curvature, and the nature of mass and massless particles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about how black holes can attract photons, noting that gravity is typically understood as a force between masses.
  • Another participant explains that the mass of a black hole curves spacetime, which affects all objects, including massless particles like photons.
  • There is a suggestion that massless particles can also exert influence on massive particles, raising questions about the nature of this interaction.
  • Links to related threads are provided for further exploration of these concepts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the nature of the interactions between black holes and photons, and the discussion remains open with multiple viewpoints presented.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of gravitational interactions involving massless particles and the need for further clarification on how these interactions are conceptualized within the framework of general relativity.

sinesawsquare
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Hello,

New to this forum. Very fascinated with physics. Started as a fascination with waveforms, sound, acoustics, and quickly spiraled into an infinite fascination with physics in general, specially particle physics at a quantum level and general relativity at a cosmic level and nuclear chemistrty in stars.

Anyways, bla bla bla about me here is a question I have been hung up on for many months.

I read very many books and no matter how many times I have it explained and how many examples I see I do not get this:

How does a black hole "pull" in photons? I currently understand that we observe mass to attract mass and we call it gravity. SO how can a black hole use gravity to pull on massless particles such as the photon.

Vice versa: how does a massless particle such as a photon "push" on massive particles such as gas clouds in space.

why do photons seem to act like massive particles.

I have many more questions in this same scope but do not want to waste your time by listing them one by one in this thread. I came here because I am absolutely entranced by physics and want to increase my understanding. I want to visualize these things in my head.

Anyways, if this would be more appropriate in another forum please move it. Links to similar threads would be appreciated if you think it would answer my question. Thank you to anybody who reads my post and thank you to anyone that sheds some light (no pun intended) on the situation.
 
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sinesawsquare said:
How does a black hole "pull" in photons?
The mass of the black hole curves spacetime, this influences all objects. So also objects that have no mass!

sinesawsquare said:
I currently understand that we observe mass to attract mass and we call it gravity.
Mass certainly attracts other masses but it also attracts massless things.

Mass curves spacetime, so two masses, in general (it's not linear), curve spacetime even more. But the attraction is due to the curvature, and the attraction applies to all objects, also objects that have no mass.
 
You might want to check the Frequently Asked Relativity Questions sub-forum:
https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=210

How does a black hole "pull" in photons? I currently understand that we observe mass to attract mass and we call it gravity. SO how can a black hole use gravity to pull on massless particles such as the photon.
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=511173


how does a massless particle such as a photon "push" on massive particles such as gas clouds in space.
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=512541
 
Last edited by a moderator:
This is awesome. Thank you for these answers and these links.
 

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