What Determines the Order of Stars Hitting a Black Hole's Event Horizon?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter thedeester1
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The order in which stars hit a black hole's event horizon is determined by multiple factors including mass, distance, and orbital dynamics. While larger stars may have a stronger gravitational pull, proximity to the event horizon plays a crucial role in determining which star falls in first. The discussion highlights that a small star close to the event horizon can enter before a larger star that is farther away. Additionally, gravitational interactions and changes in orbital paths, such as through collisions or gravitational slingshots, are essential in influencing a star's trajectory towards the black hole.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of black hole physics and event horizons
  • Familiarity with gravitational dynamics and orbital mechanics
  • Knowledge of stellar mass and its effects on gravitational attraction
  • Basic concepts of gravitational slingshots and their applications
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanics of black hole accretion and event horizon dynamics
  • Study the effects of gravitational interactions on stellar orbits
  • Explore simulations of star trajectories around black holes
  • Learn about the role of angular momentum in black hole physics
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, and students of gravitational physics who are interested in the dynamics of stars in relation to black holes.

thedeester1
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
Say you have a spiral Galaxy rotating a super massive black hole...Which stars will hit the event horizon first...Ive been thinking again...Smell the smoke...But I don't think its the nearest...I think it may be the largest. As the mass of the black hole Increases then so does its attraction to larger Gravity objects?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
i don't think it is as easy as being the largest or closest because case 1 you have a small star right beside the event horizon and a large star very far away, the small one will fall in first. case 2 a small and large star are the same distance from the event horizon then yes the bigger one has more attraction and falls in first. also this is ignoring angular frequency which is a complicated the whole thing even more
 
no, size and distance are irrelevant

a black hole has no sucky-power …

a star won't fall into a black hole unless its orbit is changed (by collision or by gravitational "slingshot") so as to go through the black hole …

it's basically pool-table mechanics, as demonstrated by Lister in one of the Red Dwarf episodes :biggrin:
 

Similar threads

High School So, a black hole and an antimatter star bump into each other....
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
High School What keeps most galactic stars from falling into the centeral black hole?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Undergrad Do Black Holes Exist? | Physics & Stephen Hawking
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad Does Dark matter get trapped in black holes and increase their mass?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
High School Are Black Holes Actually Giant Neutron Stars Cloaked in an Event Horizon?
  • · Replies 70 ·
3
Replies
70
Views
13K
Undergrad Why Do Galaxies Spin and What Drives Their Motion?
  • · Replies 53 ·
2
Replies
53
Views
9K
Undergrad Black Hole Event Horizon Hypothesis
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
High School Star at black hole event horizon
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Graduate Does the event horizon define the true surface of a black hole?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
Undergrad Event Horizon and the Mass of a Black Hole
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K