Space-Time Black Holes: Measuring Warped Space/Time

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on measuring the curvature of space-time caused by black holes, emphasizing that the only properties of black holes are mass, charge, and angular momentum. The Schwarzschild solution is highlighted as a method to calculate surface gravity for non-rotating black holes. Astronomers have identified black holes with masses up to 18 billion solar masses, allowing for calculations of their gravitational strength using the Schwarzschild formula. The concept of wormholes is also introduced, although they remain theoretical and unobserved.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of general relativity and its implications on space-time curvature
  • Familiarity with the Schwarzschild solution for black holes
  • Basic knowledge of black hole properties: mass, charge, and angular momentum
  • Awareness of astronomical measurements and observations of black holes
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Schwarzschild solution in detail to understand its applications
  • Explore the concept of gravitational waves and their relation to black holes
  • Investigate current astronomical methods for measuring black hole mass
  • Study theoretical physics regarding wormholes and their implications in cosmology
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, students of physics, and anyone interested in the properties and measurements of black holes and their effects on space-time.

THADONDARA
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Can the amount of space/time warped by a black hole be measured and if so, where can I find measurements of previously measured black holes?
 
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All things with mass or energy cause curvature of spacetime. The amount of curvature depends on the amount of mass/energy and the distance from it. Unfortunately I do not know the math to calculate all that.
 
Black holes are very special in that the only qualities they possesses are mass, charge, and angular momentum. If you know the value of those three qualities, you can calculate everything else about them, including their surface gravity. For the simplest case, a black hole with no charge and no angular momentum (i.e. non-rotating), the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_gravity#The_Schwarzschild_solution" provides a simple result.

Astronomers have observed black holes with masses of 18 billion times that of the Sun; you can plug that value into the Schwarzschild solution and compute the gravitational "strength" of the largest black holes known.

- Warren
 
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Thanks you for your answers they helped a lot i don't know much about astronomy and I am trying to learn and understand as much as i can.
 
Would it be possible that a black hole has some much mass that it curves space/time to connect to another galaxy?
 
That would be called a wormhole. They are sort of like unicorns - never actually observed.
 

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