A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES OF BLACK HOLES 1

A Brief Description of the Properties of Black Holes

Josiah Satzler

Riley County High School

Composition II

Mrs. Fink

February 19, 2016

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES OF BLACK HOLES 2

Abstract

This paper gives a brief history of the discovery and research on black holes as well as a

description of the properties of black holes. Details on how black holes affect space-time and an

explanation of a black hole’s event horizon are included. Different theories as to what would

happen if someone were to fly inside of a black hole are also outlined. The misconception about

the strength of gravitational pull is explained.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES OF BLACK HOLES 3

A Brief Description of the Properties of Black Holes

Black holes have fascinated people since their existence was hypothesized over two

hundred years ago. They have appeared in many movies and books (Interstellar, Star Trek,

Stargate) as people have speculated what the area around a black hole might look like up close or

what happens inside. Even with our extensive scientific knowledge today, black holes continue

to intrigue scientists because of their remarkable characteristics and because relatively little is

known about them.

Although Albert Einstein is often given credit for discovering black holes, the theory goes

much further back than the early 1900s. In 1783, John Michell used Isaac Newton’s equations on

gravity and escape velocity (the velocity needed to escape a given body’s gravitational pull) to

hypothesize a black hole. He computed that an object could become so dense that the escape

velocity would be equal to the speed of light; thus, the concept of a black hole was born

(Gutierrez). In 1915, Einstein’s theory of relativity explained how light could be pulled by

gravity. Although his theory and equations support black holes, Einstein himself did not believe

the universe would allow them to exist. In 1939, Robert Oppenheimer theorized that black holes

could form after the collapse of a massive star. Thirty years later, Stephen Hawking supported

this theory and furthered the research on how black holes form from dying stars. In 1969, the

term “black hole” was finally coined to replace the much lengthier name of “star in complete

gravitational collapse” (Gutierrez).

Black holes are formed when massive stars about twenty times the size of the sun

collapse inward. The collapse of a star that large releases massive amounts of energy. “Detonate

a Hiroshima-like bomb every millisecond for the entire life of the universe, and you would still

fall short of the energy released in the final moments of a giant-star collapse” (Finkel). All this
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES OF BLACK HOLES 4

energy collapses inward toward the core of the star. What once had a volume twenty times the

size of the sun has now become unimaginably dense. The gravitational pull of the newly born

black hole is so strong that not even light can escape. To give some perspective, if the sun with a

radius of 432,474 miles were to collapse into a black hole, it would have a radius of less than 2

miles.

As one can imagine, a body that dense can have some remarkable properties. Einstein

theorized that space and time are so closely related that they are, in a way, one entity that we call

space-time. Gravity leaves dents in the fabric of space-time; much like large objects would on a

trampoline. Objects with very large gravitational pulls have larger effects on space and time, like

how on our metaphorical trampoline a bowling ball would leave a bigger dent than a tennis ball.

Because black holes are so dense, they cause a dent in space-time that some say is infinitely deep

(Slater and Freedman). This hole in space-time affects, you guessed it, space and time. The

effects on space are fairly obvious; matter and light fall in and never escape. However, the effects

on time are a bit more mind boggling. Einstein’s theory of relativity states that time is relative,

meaning that time can speed up and slow down depending on where you are in the universe.

Where gravity is stronger, time travels slower. In the case of a black hole, where gravity is

immensely strong, time goes by much, much slower. In other words, “For every minute you

spend [close to a black hole], a thousand years will pass on Earth” (Finkel). Therefore, black

holes are basically time machines.

Another fascinating aspect of a black hole is its event horizon. Matter can orbit black

holes, just like the earth orbits the sun. But as matter gets closer and closer to the black hole, it

will eventually cross a point where it can never escape; this is the event horizon. At the event

horizon, the escape velocity is equal to the speed of light (Slater) making it the “point of no
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES OF BLACK HOLES 5

return.” One could illustrate the event horizon with a ship being sucked into a whirlpool. If the

captain recognizes soon enough, he could turn the ship around before being sucked in. But the

ship will eventually reach a point where, even if the captain notices, he cannot turn around; it is

too late. The event horizon can be thought of as the surface of the black hole. The really

interesting thing about the event horizon is that because no light can escape, it is impossible to

see inside (Slater).

So then, what happens inside a black hole? What if someone entered a black hole? It is

impossible to know, unless one was to cross the event horizon, but there are many theories. One

is that there is a sort of “fire wall” that burns up all matter that enters (Finkel). Some suggest that

if one were to cross the event horizon, nothing at all would happen. He would uneventfully

continue being pulled closer the center, unaware that anything had changed at all. But as he

travels deeper, gravity grows stronger. Eventually, the difference in gravity between two points

on his body will become different enough that he will start to stretch out. He will stretch farther

and farther until gravity rips him apart (Finkel).

One of the largest misconceptions about black holes is that they are a type of diabolical

space vacuum trying to suck the entire universe into nonexistence. But black holes contain no

more sucking power than stars. For example, if the sun were to somehow turn into a black hole,

the earth would continue its orbit as usual. The mass of the sun would not change, it would just

became incredibly dense. Therefore, the gravitational pull would stay the same.

We have known about black holes for more than 200 years and there is still so much

mystery surrounding them. How can something become so dense? What would it look like up

close? What is past the event horizon? There is so much to learn! Breakthroughs are happening

every day. We can expect this topic to keep science fiction writers and scientists busy for years to
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES OF BLACK HOLES 6

come.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES OF BLACK HOLES 7

References

"Blast From Black Hole in a Galaxy Far, Far Away." NASA. Ed. Lee Mohon. 2 Feb. 2016. Web.

10 Feb. 2016. This NASA article describes what we are seeing in pictures of a

supermassive black hole about 500 million light years away. The black hole is in the

center of the Pictor A galaxy and is shooting off a massive beam of light 300,000 light

years long. NASA calls this beam simply a “jet.” In addition, a “counterjet” shoots from

the black hole’s opposite pole.

Finkle, Michael. "Black Hole: Star Eater." National Geographic. Mar. 2014. Web. 8 Feb. 2016.

Finkle starts by giving an overview a definition of black holes and then moves on to

explain myths and what would happen if one were to cross the event horizon. Finkle also

explains the idea of a multiverse (we live in just one of many universes) and how that

theory and black holes could possibly be related.

Gallagher, Belinda, ed. 8000 Things You Should Know. Bardfield Centre: Miles Key, 2007

Print. This book gives just some brief information on the basic elements of a black hole

such as properties of black holes, and terminology.

Gutierrez, Juan B. "Black Holes." Explora. Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science, Jan. 2015.

Web. 8 Feb. 2015. This article goes into the history of how black holes were discovered

and paradoxes regarding black holes such as the violation of the second law of

thermodynamics and the law of quantum mechanics.

May, Sandra. "What Is a Black Hole?" NASA. 4 June 2014. Web. 10 Feb. 2016. NASA gives a

basic overview black holes of describing what it is, how they form, and how we know

they are there. NASA also describes the smallest black holes called “primordial black

holes that are as small as an atom but has the mass of a mountain.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES OF BLACK HOLES 8

Slater, Timothy F. Investigating Astronomy. New York, NY: W.H. Freeman, 2012. Print.

This textbook gives a more detailed view of black holes. It begins by talking about the

life cycle of stars and moves on to describe how dying stars become black holes. It also

outlines “urban legends” of black holes.