Speed of Light & Black Hole: What Happens?

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Flying a starship near the speed of light into a black hole would likely result in disintegration due to gravitational tidal forces, commonly referred to as spaghettification. The outcome depends on the size of the black hole; a small black hole would tear the ship apart before reaching the event horizon, while a larger black hole would do so after entry. The ship's speed relative to the black hole doesn't prevent it from being affected by these tidal forces. Acceleration plays a crucial role, as the pieces of the ship would gain speed relative to each other during the disintegration process. Ultimately, traveling at near light speed does not provide protection against the extreme gravitational effects of a black hole.
Enjamiering
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What would happen if you were to fly a starship traveling near the speed of light directly into a black hole?

Would it stay in tact because it cannot be accelerating any faster?

Or would it split because it's being accelerated in all directions simultaneously?
 
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It would disintegrate due to gravitational tidal effects. Traveling at near c would not save it.
 
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Enjamiering said:
What would happen if you were to fly a starship traveling near the speed of light directly into a black hole?

Would it stay in tact because it cannot be accelerating any faster?

Or would it split because it's being accelerated in all directions simultaneously?
That would depend on the size of the black hole. For a small black hole, it would be ripped apart (sphagettified) by tidal forces before ever getting to the event horizon. For a large black hole it would be sphagettified some time after it entered the event horizon, also by tidal forces.
 
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phinds said:
That would depend on the size of the black hole. For a small black hole, it would be ripped apart (sphagettified) by tidal forces before ever getting to the event horizon. For a large black hole it would be sphagettified some time after it entered the event horizon, also by tidal forces.
He's asking whether, at ~c, the craft can spaghettify. And if so, how?
 
Enjamiering said:
What would happen if you were to fly a starship traveling near the speed of light directly into a black hole?
Traveling near the speed of light relative to what? The black hole?

Would it stay in tact because it cannot be accelerating any faster?
Speed is restricted to no greater than the speed of light- not acceleration.

Or would it split because it's being accelerated in all directions simultaneously?
Being torn apart means that the pieces are accelerating (and gaining speed) relative to each other. But they start out with 0 speed relative to each other. The fact that the ship is near c relative to the black hole is irrelevant.
 

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