Sep 6, 2024, 09:38 PM IST
7 Questions You Might Have About Black Holes
Black holes are extremely dense objects in space with gravity strong enough that nothing – not even light – can escape. While they are mysterious, black holes are key to understanding how gravity works. Here are the answers to some of the FAQs about black holes:
How Long Does it Take for a Black Hole to Form?
A stellar-mass black hole, which is ten times heavier than the Sun, can be formed in seconds after the collapse of a massive star.
Can a Black Hole Eat an Entire Galaxy?
No, it is not possible for a black hole to eat an entire galaxy. The gravitational reach of supermassive black holes at the galaxy's centre is large but not nearly big enough for them to eat an entire galaxy.
Can the Sun Turn Into a Black Hole?
The Sun can never turn into a black hole because it is not large enough to explode. Rather, it can become a dense stellar remnant called a white dwarf.
What is the Most Distant Black Hole Ever Seen?
The most distant black hole is located in a galaxy about 13.1 billion light-years from Earth. This supermassive black hole is called a quasar by astronomers
How is the Mass of a Supermassive Black Hole Calculated?
Research on black holes involves studying the motion of stars in the centres of galaxies. These motions suggest the presence of a dark, massive body whose mass can be estimated by measuring how fast the stars are moving.