What is the Event Horizon of a Black Hole?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of the event horizon of a black hole, exploring its definition, implications, and related astronomical findings. The scope includes theoretical explanations and references to astronomical observations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant defines the event horizon as the point where escape velocity equals the speed of light, describing it as a boundary beyond which nothing can return.
  • Another participant shares a link to a Wikipedia article for a more detailed introductory explanation of the event horizon.
  • A third participant references an article discussing supermassive black holes, noting that their event horizons can be significantly larger than the orbit of Earth and extend gravitational influence over vast distances.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants provide varying levels of detail and context regarding the event horizon, but there is no explicit consensus or disagreement noted in the posts.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to external sources for further information, but does not resolve any specific uncertainties or definitions related to the event horizon.

AbsoluteZer0
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Hi,

I've heard a fair bit about the event horizon of a black hole. What exactly is the event horizon?

Thanks,
 
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It is the point where the escape velocity equals the speed of light. It not a physical thing, but marks the boundary of "no return" . Anything that passes closer to the black hole than its event horizon, can never do anything but fall in closer to the black hole, this includes light.
 
The mothers of all event horizons!Excerpt:

Astronomers Find the Most Supermassive Black Holes Yet
by Amy Shira Teitel on December 7, 2011Each of these black holes has an event horizon — the point of no return where nothing, not even light can escape their gravity — 200 times larger than the orbit of Earth (or five times the orbit of Pluto). That’s a mind-boggling 29,929,600,000 kilometres or 18,597,391,235 miles.

Beyond the event horizon, each has a gravitational influence that extends over 4,000 light years in every direction.
http://www.universetoday.com/91625/astronomers-find-the-most-supermassive-black-holes-yet/
 

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