Question about derivation of surface gravity of a black hole

In summary, the derivation for the surface gravity of a Schwarzschild black hole involves imagining a mass attached to a rope and raising it a distance dl. A local observer will say the work required is mgdl, where g is the local acceleration given by g= \frac{M}{r^2}(1-\frac{2M}{r})^{-1/2}. However, a distant observer will measure the work as mg_{\infty}dl, which is taken to define the surface gravity g_{\infty}. These two expressions are related by a redshift factor and directly lead to the answer for g_{\infty}, 1/4M. There is a discrepancy in the use of the rest mass in
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nrqed
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The derivaton I have seen (for a Schwarzschild black hole) is this

One imagines a mass m attached to a long (well infinitely long) inextensible rope (of negligible mass!). One raises the mass a distance dl.

A local observer (hovering above the black hole at a coordinate r) will say that the work required is [itex] m g dl [/itex] , where this g is the local acceleration given by (setting G=1)

[tex] g= \frac{M }{r^2} (1 - \frac{2M}{r})^{-1/2} [/tex] where M is the mass of the black hole.

On the other hand, they say that the work as measured by a distant observer is
[tex] m g_{\infty} dl [/tex] which is taken to define the surface gravity [itex] g_{\infty}[/itex].

Then one says that the two expressions are related by a redshift factor and this directly leads to the answer for [itex] g_{\infty}[/itex], 1/4M.


What bothers me is that we usually say that the rest mass energy of an object with mass m located at a coordinate r is measured from the observer at infinity to be [itex] m (1-2M/r^{1/2} [/itex] On the other hand, the derivation for the surface gravity made above uses the rest mass m to write down the work done by the remote observer.

So why is that the correct thing to do?

Thanks in advance
 
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  • #2
nrqed said:
What bothers me is that we usually say that the rest mass energy of an object with mass m located at a coordinate r is measured from the observer at infinity to be [itex] m (1-2M/r^{1/2} [/itex]

Would it be correct to say there's a typo in this equation and it should read [itex] m (1-2M/r)^{1/2} [/itex]? If so could you provide a source. This implies that if an object falls from rest at infinity towards an object of mass, the kinetic energy it gains on the way will not be registered at infinity once it reaches the surface of the object as [itex] m (1-2M/r)^{1/2} [/itex] will cancel out any energy gained due to the Lorentz factor. On the other hand, relative to the surface of the object, the kinetic energy would be apparent.

On the other hand, the derivation for the surface gravity made above uses the rest mass m to write down the work done by the remote observer.

Is there any way you could expand on this?
 
  • #3
nrqed said:
The derivaton I have seen (for a Schwarzschild black hole) is this

One imagines a mass m attached to a long (well infinitely long) inextensible rope (of negligible mass!). One raises the mass a distance dl.

A local observer (hovering above the black hole at a coordinate r) will say that the work required is [itex] m g dl [/itex] , where this g is the local acceleration given by (setting G=1)

[tex] g= \frac{M }{r^2} (1 - \frac{2M}{r})^{-1/2} [/tex] where M is the mass of the black hole.

this equation is in agreement with the one I give for the proper acceleration on a particle at r in the first post of this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=402135

nrqed said:
On the other hand, they say that the work as measured by a distant observer is
[tex] m g_{\infty} dl [/tex] which is taken to define the surface gravity [itex] g_{\infty}[/itex].

Then one says that the two expressions are related by a redshift factor and this directly leads to the answer for [itex] g_{\infty}[/itex], 1/4M.

and this result is in agreemment with coordinate force (as measured at infinity) acting on a particle on the surface at radius r that I gave in the same post which was:

[tex] F = \frac{GMm}{r^2} [/tex]

which when the particle is at the event horizon and r = 2GM/c^2 the result is:

[tex] F = \frac{mc^2}{4} [/tex]


nrqed said:
What bothers me is that we usually say that the rest mass energy of an object with mass m located at a coordinate r is measured from the observer at infinity to be [itex] m (1-2M/r^{1/2} [/itex] On the other hand, the derivation for the surface gravity made above uses the rest mass m to write down the work done by the remote observer.

Note that the mass (m) of the test particle given in the above equation is not the proper rest mass [tex]m_o[/tex] but is related by:

[tex]m = \frac{m_o}{\sqrt{1-\frac{2GM}{rc^2}}}[/tex]

When expressed in terms of the proper rest mass of the particle, the surface force is infinite.

stevebd1 said:
Would it be correct to say there's a typo in this equation and it should read [itex] m (1-2M/r)^{1/2} [/itex]? If so could you provide a source. This implies that if an object falls from rest at infinity towards an object of mass, the kinetic energy it gains on the way will not be registered at infinity once it reaches the surface of the object as [itex] m (1-2M/r)^{1/2} [/itex] will cancel out any energy gained due to the Lorentz factor. On the other hand, relative to the surface of the object, the kinetic energy would be apparent...

Here is one reference http://www.physics.umd.edu/grt/taj/776b/lectures.pdf See section 2.1.1 that might shed some light, but it does not go into too much detail.
 
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1. What is the formula for calculating the surface gravity of a black hole?

The formula for calculating the surface gravity of a black hole is g = (c^4)/(4G*M), where c is the speed of light, G is the gravitational constant, and M is the mass of the black hole.

2. How is the surface gravity of a black hole related to its mass?

The surface gravity of a black hole is directly proportional to its mass. This means that as the mass of the black hole increases, so does its surface gravity.

3. Can the surface gravity of a black hole be measured?

No, the surface gravity of a black hole cannot be measured directly. It is a theoretical concept used to describe the strength of the gravitational field at the event horizon of a black hole.

4. How does the surface gravity of a black hole affect objects around it?

The surface gravity of a black hole is incredibly strong, which means that it can significantly affect objects and matter around it. It can cause objects to accelerate towards the black hole at an incredibly high speed, leading to their eventual capture and absorption by the black hole's event horizon.

5. Is the surface gravity of a black hole the same at all points on its event horizon?

Yes, the surface gravity of a black hole is the same at all points on its event horizon. This is because the event horizon is the point at which the gravitational force is strong enough to prevent anything, including light, from escaping the black hole's gravitational pull.

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