What Happens Inside a Black Hole?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the experiences and phenomena associated with falling into a black hole, including the effects of gravity, time dilation, and potential outcomes for an individual entering a black hole. The scope includes theoretical considerations and speculative ideas about the nature of black holes and their impact on matter.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that falling into a black hole leads to indefinite descent until being incinerated by electromagnetic radiation, with uncertainty about whether one is vaporized or compressed into a singularity while still alive.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of adhering to established scientific principles rather than speculation.
  • Another participant notes that in free fall, one does not feel gravity only in uniform fields, suggesting that the non-uniform gravity of a black hole will cause significant stretching during the fall.
  • Several participants mention the concept of "spaghettification," where the difference in gravitational forces leads to the body being stretched and torn apart, with the degree of spaghettification potentially varying based on the mass of the black hole.
  • Time dilation is discussed, with some suggesting that upon entering a black hole, one might instantaneously experience the fate of the black hole, leading to death coinciding with the black hole's demise.
  • There are repeated calls to avoid speculation and personal opinions, indicating a desire for a more scientific discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of speculative ideas and established scientific concepts, with no clear consensus on the experiences within a black hole or the outcomes of falling into one. Disagreements exist regarding the interpretation of gravitational effects and the implications of time dilation.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on the definitions of terms like "spaghettification" and the conditions of falling into different types of black holes. The discussion highlights the complexity of gravitational effects and the speculative nature of experiences within black holes.

The Fishicist
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I'm curious about what others think. As I believe that you fall indefinitely in a black hole, and since you don't feel the gravity when falling, you fall until your incinerated by faster moving electromagnetic radiation falling on you. But you can only see what is above you, assuming your eyes aren't fried by X-Rays as soon as you look up.

Do you think you get vaporized and compressed into an singularity with a definite position? Or just get compressed while you're still alive?
 
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In free fall, you 'don't feel the gravity' only if the field is uniform, non-varying.

But the strong gravity of a black hole, with its radial symmetry and corresponding non-uniformity, will 'stretch' you badly during the fall...
 
The most accepted view is that you experience "spaghettification." The difference in gravity between your feet and head pulls your body apart, and you turn into "spaghetti", really fast. Then each little part left is torn apart, and so on.
 
AgentSmith said:
The most accepted view is that you experience "spaghettification." The difference in gravity between your feet and head pulls your body apart, and you turn into "spaghetti", really fast. Then each little part left is torn apart, and so on.

That depends on the mass of the black hole. The greater the mass, the smaller the tidal force (difference between the force at one end of your body and the other) so the less spaghettification happens. For a supermassive black hole such as the ones found at galactic centers, you could fall through the event horizon without even noticing.
 
Because of time dilation, you will instantly experience the fate of the black hole. The time outside of the black hole will,from your frame of reference, instantaneously go to the time of the demise of the black hole. So as soon as you enter the black hole, you will die with the black hole.

This is just something that I think might happen.
 
Last edited:
student34 said:
Because of time dilation, you will instantly experience the fate of the black hole. The time outside of the black hole will,from your frame of reference, instantaneously go to the time of the demise of the black hole. So as soon as you enter the black hole, you will die with the black hole.

This is just something that I think might happen.
See the link from post #2 for a correct description.
 
Let's avoid speculation and personal opinions on what we 'think' might happen please.
 

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