Black Holes

Definition - Black Holes are by definition a black mass that has an escape velocity equal to or greater than the speed of light (3 x 10   m/s) at the event horizon

Information

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Black Hole Size Comparison

A size comparison chart displaying the size relationship of different types of black holes

Miniature

Stellar

Supermassive

What is a black hole?

Stellar

Supermassive

Formed by the collapse of a large to massive star

Mathematically speaking miniature black holes are possible

Most common type of black hole

The largest type of black hole

Incredibly small in size

Event horizon can have a diameter as small as an atomic partial

Often formed after a supernova or going into the "giant" phase

Extreme gravitational pull

Mass is equivalent to billions of suns

Speculated to have formed at the beginning of our universe

Speculated to have formed as a byproduct of galaxy formation

Often at the center of galaxy's

Types of Black Holes

Miniature

Have never been observed

Black Holes by definition are a black mass that has an escape velocity greater than or equal to the speed of light (3 x 10^8 m/s) at the event horizon, which the theoretical boundary around a black hole were nothing can escape the gravitational pull. This means black holes have an incredibly high mass and density creating an unbelievably high gravitational pull that nothing can escape, not even light. Black holes have a gravitational pull so strong they are capable of devouring entire solar systems or galaxies.

Discovery

The idea of a black hole was first developed in 1916 by astronomer Karl Schwarzschild. Schwarzschild did this by using Einstein's theory of general relativity. The astronomer developed the Schwarzchild radius which is known as Rs = 2MG/c^2 which gives the maximum radius of a body with a specific mass that would not allow light to escape it's gravitational pull.

 

Black holes do not emit any detectable light, the main process involved in discovering a black holes existence is measuring visible light, X-rays and radio waves emitted by the surrounding material. For example, if a star is orbiting a black hole, the gravitational force of the black hole will pull the star's outer gases toward the black holes center. Since a star emits light, the process of a star being engulfed by a black hole is seen and from this is how a black hole is discovered.

Formed by the collapse of most massive stars