According to current scientific understanding, there is no upper limit to how large a black hole can theoretically become. Black holes can grow in size through the process of accretion, where they gather matter from their surrounding environment. As more matter falls into a black hole, its mass and gravitational pull increase.
In principle, a black hole could continue to accrete matter indefinitely, becoming larger and more massive over time. However, there are practical limitations that come into play. The availability of matter for accretion decreases with cosmic time, as galaxies and gas clouds become more dispersed. Additionally, there are other astrophysical processes, such as the ejection of mass through powerful jets or the feedback from radiation, that can regulate the growth of black holes.
Observations suggest that supermassive black holes, which reside at the centers of galaxies, can reach masses of billions or even tens of billions of times that of our Sun. These black holes are thought to have formed through a combination of accretion and mergers with other black holes. While it is theoretically possible for black holes to grow larger than this, the practical limitations mentioned earlier make it less likely to observe significantly larger black holes in the universe.
There is a fundamental limit to how much matter can be compressed into a given volume of space, known as the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) limit. The TOV limit arises from the principles of general relativity and quantum mechanics.
According to general relativity, as matter is compressed into a smaller and smaller volume, its gravitational field becomes stronger. At some point, the gravitational force becomes so intense that it counteracts the inward pressure from the matter's own constituents, such as the repulsive forces between atomic particles. This balance between gravity and pressure sets a maximum limit to how compact an object can be without collapsing further under its own gravity.
For non-rotating, spherically symmetric objects, the TOV limit predicts that a white dwarf, supported by electron degeneracy pressure, cannot exceed about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun. This limit is known as the Chandrasekhar limit.
For more massive objects, such as neutron stars, which are supported by neutron degeneracy pressure, the TOV limit is higher. The maximum mass of a neutron star is estimated to be around 2 to 3 times the mass of the Sun.
If a compact object exceeds the TOV limit, it is expected to undergo further gravitational collapse, leading to the formation of a black hole. Once a black hole is formed, the matter is compressed into a singularity, a region of infinite density at the center, where our current understanding of physics breaks down.
Therefore, while there is no theoretical upper limit for the size of a black hole itself, there is a limit to how much matter can be packed into a given volume of space before it collapses into a black hole.
We theorize the collapse is in fact not a collapse at all, but a cumulative total of the uncollapsible object and its accretion disk, which turns opaque then invisible relative to Earth, due to the space being superluminal. Superluminal means faster than light. It is an adjective used in astronomy, physics, fiction, and fantasy. Superluminal motion is most often observed in two opposing jets emanating from the core of a star or black hole. In this case, one jet is moving away from and one towards the Earth. Superluminal motion occurs when a concrete source of radiation evolves with high speed and its direction is nearly pointing toward the observer. Namely, the angle between the line of sight and the velocity vector is small.
The phenomenon we are describing, where an object and its accretion disk become opaque and invisible relative to Earth, does not align with our current understanding of black hole formation.
According to the prevailing astrophysical models, when a massive object undergoes gravitational collapse beyond the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) limit, it forms a singularity—an infinitely dense point—at its center surrounded by an event horizon, which is the boundary beyond which nothing can escape, including light. This configuration is what we refer to as a black hole.
The presence of an event horizon is what makes black holes "invisible" to outside observers. While matter and energy can fall into a black hole and contribute to the growth of its mass and accretion disk, any information about that matter is forever lost once it crosses the event horizon. Therefore, black holes do not possess a visible surface or an opaque accretion disk that can be directly observed from outside the event horizon.
Instead, observations of black holes typically involve detecting the effects of their strong gravitational fields on nearby matter or capturing emissions from the heated material in their accretion disks. These emissions can range from X-rays to gamma rays and can be observed through telescopes sensitive to those wavelengths.
It's important to note that our understanding of black holes is based on our current theories of gravity and general relativity. While they have been remarkably successful in explaining a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, including black hole behavior, they may not provide a complete description at the quantum level. The study of black holes and their properties, such as the nature of the singularity at their centers, remains an active area of research.
There is no such thing as an "infinitely dense point" according to our understanding.
If it seems that we are describing a speculative hypothesis or alternative model that differs from the conventional understanding of black hole formation and behavior, that is because we are.
It's important to note that the concept of superluminal motion, where an object or its emissions appear to move faster than the speed of light, is a subject of active debate and ongoing research in astrophysics. While there have been observations of apparent superluminal motion in certain astronomical contexts, such as relativistic jets, it is generally understood as a result of a relativistic effect rather than actual motion faster than light.
Regarding the nature of the singularity at the center of a black hole, our current understanding based on general relativity suggests that the matter is compressed to infinite density. However, it is widely recognized that a theory of quantum gravity is necessary to fully describe the behavior of matter and spacetime at these extreme conditions. The exact nature of the singularity and its behavior at the quantum level remain active areas of research and are subjects of ongoing scientific inquiry.
While there are various speculative models and alternative hypotheses proposed by physicists, it is important to emphasize that they are still under investigation and are not yet established as mainstream scientific consensus. The study of black holes and their fundamental properties continues to be an active and evolving field of research.
Mainstream scientists cannot claim there is a "infinitely dense point" without there also being superluminal space-time, and if there is superluminal space-time, then there is also subluminal space-time. Not in the sense that something is moving slower than the speed of light relative to us, but in the sense that space-time exists below the speed of light at rest.
In the context of our current understanding based on general relativity, the concept of an infinitely dense point, known as a singularity, arises when the equations of the theory are extrapolated to the extreme conditions at the center of a black hole. However, it is indeed acknowledged that a complete theory of quantum gravity is needed to fully understand the behavior of matter and spacetime in such extreme regimes.
Regarding the notion of superluminal and subluminal space-time, it is important to clarify that the term "superluminal" typically refers to objects or phenomena appearing to exceed the speed of light, while "subluminal" generally refers to speeds below the speed of light. In the framework of special relativity, which is a foundational theory of physics, the speed of light is considered an absolute cosmic speed limit, and objects with mass cannot attain or exceed this speed.
However, when discussing space-time itself, it is essential to differentiate between the motion of objects within space-time and the concept of space-time itself being superluminal or subluminal. The nature and behavior of space-time, including its structure and curvature, are described by general relativity. In general relativity, space-time itself is not subject to speed limitations in the same way that objects within space-time are. The theory allows for space-time to be curved, warped, and influenced by mass and energy, but it does not describe space-time as having a specific velocity relative to an observer.
It is worth noting that the exploration of the behavior of space-time at extreme conditions, such as near black holes or in the early universe, is an active area of research. Various approaches, including the study of quantum gravity and other theoretical frameworks, aim to understand the nature of space-time in these regimes and reconcile general relativity with quantum mechanics. However, the exact nature of space-time at these extremes is still an open question in modern physics.
Velocity is a fundamental concept in physics and can affect various quantities such as time, length, and mass.
In the framework of special relativity, which deals with the behavior of objects moving at speeds approaching the speed of light, velocity is indeed a vector quantity. It consists of both magnitude (speed) and direction. Special relativity introduces the concept of "relativistic velocity addition," which describes how velocities combine when objects are moving close to the speed of light relative to each other.
Special relativity also introduces the concept of time dilation, length contraction, and mass increase with increasing velocity. As an object approaches the speed of light, time appears to pass more slowly for that object relative to a stationary observer, lengths along the direction of motion appear contracted, and the mass of the object increases. These relativistic effects become significant as the velocity of an object approaches the speed of light.
It's important to note that these relativistic effects are incorporated into the mathematical formalism of special relativity, which provides a consistent framework for describing the behavior of objects moving at high speeds. However, they are not directly related to the concept of superluminal or subluminal motion, where objects are purportedly moving faster or slower than the speed of light, respectively.
In summary, velocity is a fundamental concept in physics, and in the context of special relativity, it can affect quantities such as time, length, and mass. The relativistic effects associated with high velocities near the speed of light are well-established within the framework of special relativity, while the concepts of superluminal or subluminal motion remain areas of ongoing research and debate.
velocity, whether scalar or vector, can affect various quantities such as time, length, and mass.
In classical physics, where velocities are treated as scalar quantities, changes in velocity can impact these quantities. When an object undergoes motion with a changing velocity, it experiences time dilation, length contraction, and relativistic mass increase. These effects are not as pronounced as those described by special relativity for velocities approaching the speed of light, but they are still present.
For example, according to classical physics, if an object moves at a high velocity relative to an observer, time appears to pass more slowly for that object compared to the observer's frame of reference. This phenomenon is known as time dilation. Similarly, the length of the object in the direction of motion may appear shorter to the observer due to length contraction. Additionally, changes in velocity can affect the mass of an object according to classical principles.
However, it's important to note that the effects described by classical physics are significantly smaller compared to the relativistic effects described by special relativity. At everyday speeds encountered in most human-scale scenarios, these classical effects are negligible and can be adequately approximated using classical physics principles. Special relativity becomes crucial for accurately describing objects moving at speeds close to the speed of light.
The opposite of an infinitely dense point, or singularity, in the context of black holes would be a region of space-time with finite density and curvature. In other words, it would refer to a situation where matter or energy is distributed in a way that avoids the formation of a singularity.
One proposed concept that could serve as an alternative to singularities is the notion of a "wormhole." A wormhole is a speculative structure that connects two separate regions of space-time or potentially different universes. It is often depicted as a tunnel or bridge that could provide shortcuts or connections between distant locations. Wormholes are theoretical constructs that arise from solutions to Einstein's field equations in general relativity.
In the context of a wormhole, the matter or energy distribution is postulated to create a "throat" or conduit that connects two distant regions. The properties of a wormhole would allow for travel or communication between these regions. However, it is important to note that wormholes remain purely theoretical at this stage, and their existence or feasibility is still a subject of active scientific investigation.
It is important to acknowledge that our understanding of extreme conditions, such as those within black holes or potential alternatives like wormholes, is still an area of ongoing research and speculation. Further theoretical and observational advancements are needed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these phenomena.
You cannot have an infinitely dense point without also having an infinitely empty point, in which Earth likely resides inside of a black hole, in theory.
The idea that Earth resides inside a black hole or that there is an infinitely empty point corresponding to a singularity is not supported by current scientific understanding or mainstream theories in physics. It is important to distinguish between speculative or fringe ideas and the well-established scientific knowledge based on empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks.
Our current understanding of black holes, as derived from general relativity and supported by a wide range of observational evidence, suggests that a black hole is formed when matter collapses under its own gravitational force, resulting in a singularity—a region of infinite density and curvature—at its core. However, it is worth noting that the nature of singularities is an area of active research and there are ongoing efforts to develop a more complete theory that encompasses both general relativity and quantum mechanics.
The notion that Earth resides inside a black hole contradicts our understanding of the universe's structure and the observed behavior of black holes. Observations of the universe, such as the large-scale distribution of galaxies, the cosmic microwave background radiation, and the expansion of the universe, do not support the idea that our entire universe exists inside a black hole.
Scientific progress is based on evidence, rigorous testing, and the development of well-supported theories. While exploring alternative ideas can be valuable in scientific inquiry, it is essential to critically evaluate and consider the evidence and consensus within the scientific community. At present, the prevailing scientific understanding is that Earth does not reside inside a black hole, and the concept of an "infinitely empty point" is not a well-established or widely accepted idea in mainstream physics.
Our universe is a jet from a black hole, actually. It remains to be seen if we have escape velocity.
The idea that our universe is a jet emanating from a black hole is not a mainstream scientific theory or widely accepted concept in contemporary physics. The current understanding of the universe is based on observations, measurements, and theoretical frameworks such as the Big Bang theory and the expanding universe.
The Big Bang theory describes the early expansion of the universe from a highly dense and hot state, and subsequent observations, such as the cosmic microwave background radiation and the large-scale structure of the universe, support this framework. While there are still many unanswered questions about the origin and nature of the universe, the prevailing scientific consensus is that the universe began with the Big Bang and has been expanding since then.
Regarding the concept of escape velocity, it typically refers to the minimum velocity required for an object to escape the gravitational pull of a massive body, such as a planet or a star. In the context of the universe as a whole, the expansion of space-time is not governed by escape velocity but rather by the dynamics of the overall cosmological model. The expansion of the universe is driven by a combination of dark energy and the distribution of matter and energy.
While there are ongoing debates and investigations in cosmology and theoretical physics, the idea that our universe is a jet from a black hole and the notion of escape velocity in this context are speculative and not supported by current scientific understanding. It's important to approach such ideas critically and rely on the consensus and evidence within the scientific community when assessing scientific claims.
We are not sure who is the fringe scientist is.
Exploring the Boundaries: Singularities, Black Holes, and the Mysteries of the Universe
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Exploring the Boundaries: Singularities, Black Holes, and the Mysteries of the Universe
"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." ~ William Arthur Ward