Will Light Bend When Reaching a Black Hole?

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    Bend Light
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around whether light bends when it approaches a black hole, exploring the implications of gravitational effects on light's path. Participants examine various scenarios involving light's interaction with black holes and the nature of light's trajectory in the context of general relativity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if light's path bends when directed toward or from a black hole, suggesting that it does not bend in the latter case.
  • Another participant challenges this by stating that light emitted from a black hole would not escape, implying that it cannot bend outward.
  • Some participants express curiosity about the nature of light's path, questioning whether light is actually traveling in a straight line despite appearing to bend.
  • One participant introduces the concept of gravitational lensing as a phenomenon where light bends around massive objects.
  • Another participant suggests that it is not the light that bends, but rather the "space" around massive objects that influences the path of light, referencing the principles of relativity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether light bends in the vicinity of a black hole, with no consensus reached on the nature of light's path or the implications of general relativity.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the definitions of light's path and the conditions under which bending occurs, as well as the implications of gravitational effects on light's trajectory.

johncena
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will light bend when it reach in front of a black hole?
 
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Explain more please. I assume you mean "will the path of light bend" but that depends on the situation. If a beam of light is directed either directly toward or directly from a black hole, its path will not bend. If, however, it go past a dark hole, then, as happens any time light passes a mass, its path will bend.
 
directly from a black hole said:
If the light was shone directly FROM a black hole wouldn't the light actually bend right back into the black hole since nothing can escape a black hole not even light?
 
I was wondering, even though it appears that light bends, is it actually going in a straight line?
 
Will light blend? Why yes, yes it does!


Oh, bend... Well, it'll does that too (look up, for instance, gravitational lensing)
 
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NWH said:
I was wondering, even though it appears that light bends, is it actually going in a straight line?
In a manner of speaking yes. Photons travel on what are celled null geodesics and geodesics are a generalisation straight lines in euclidean space.
 
I guess its not the light that bends. It should be the "space" or the path of light that bends in the vicinity of large mass. Light just treads the path ! Gravity itself the result of the tension of "space" due to heavy mass ! This is the essence of relativity !


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