Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    ironclad04's Avatar
    ironclad04 Posts: 193, Reputation: 8
    Junior Member
     
    #1

    Jun 4, 2009, 08:52 PM
    Black Holes?
    Ironclad here! I've taken up astronomy in high school and learned a little bit about the black hole being one of the deadly entities in our universe!? But it came across me that I wondered if it was possible about one being right here on earth? People say that it could tie to the bermuda triangle? But I just wanted to throw this out there to get feedback, I think its interesting to get others opinions on this! Thank you everyone!
    NeedKarma's Avatar
    NeedKarma Posts: 10,635, Reputation: 1706
    Uber Member
     
    #2

    Jun 5, 2009, 06:59 AM
    If you learn about the physical properties of a black hole then you'll understand why having one on a planet would be impossible.

    Start here: Astronomy For Kids -Black Holes - KidsAstronomy.com
    Or here: http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/BHfaq.html
    excon's Avatar
    excon Posts: 21,482, Reputation: 2992
    Uber Member
     
    #3

    Jun 5, 2009, 07:18 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by ironclad04 View Post
    learned alittle bit about the black hole being one of the deadly entities in our universe!??
    Hello iron:

    They're not necessarily deadly either. No more so, at least, than a star that blows up. Black holes might, and probably DO contribute to the recycling of the matter in the Universe.

    Without that recycling, there wouldn't be life. Your body is made up of what used to be stars.

    I'll bet when we find out what black holes do, we'll find them very beneficial.

    excon
    ebaines's Avatar
    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
    Expert
     
    #4

    Jun 5, 2009, 08:20 AM

    Excon - I think you are referring to the concept of how the elements above Hydrogen and Helium are created and distributed throughout the universe - which is thought to largely rely on the spreading of detritus from super novae explosions. As the universe ages the newer stars and planetary systems are made up of higher percentages of the elements we rely on for life - carbon, oxygen, iron, all the way up through uranium. Our sun and solar system are believed to be third generation of this process, so in that sense we are all made of "star stuff" (as Carl Sagan used to say). But black holes do not contribute to this process. As for black holes being deadly - thinking of black holes as they exist in space (left overs from super novae) - venturing too close to a black hole would indeed kill you, science fiction stories notwithstanding. If you get anywhere near a black hole first the x-ray and gamma ray radiation from infalling material would fry you, and then the tidal forces would tear your body apart.

    As for the possibility of black holes existing on earth - it is indeed possible, although we are talking about extremely small objects (not at all like black holes as they occur in space) and in fact the controversy over the CERN super collider is around the possibility of creating extremely small black holes inside the super-collider. What we are talking about are singularities weighing less than a single atom. But most scientists believe this to be unlikely, given that if black holes could be created this way we would already be seeing them as the earth is bombarded every day by gamma rays with enough energy to duplicate this process. And if they can be created like this, they would evaporate so quickly as to be harmless. At least, that's what the CERN scientists say.
    excon's Avatar
    excon Posts: 21,482, Reputation: 2992
    Uber Member
     
    #5

    Jun 5, 2009, 08:32 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by ebaines View Post
    As for black holes being deadly - thinking of black holes as they exist in space (left overs from super novae) - venturing too close to a black hole would indeed kill you, science fiction stories notwithstanding.
    Hello again, ebaines:

    Well, you're certainly more educated than I am...

    Of course, should we get close to a black hole, it would kill us. But, we're NOT going to get close to a black hole, so the only thing the black hole devours are inanimate objects... Yes, it "kills" them...

    But... It used to be that all matter that went into a black hole disappears forever. Now, it seems that some black holes DO give off some material.

    It would seem to me, that this is recycling of stuff, even if it isn't the parts that we're made up of.

    I'm happy to be proven wrong, though. I LOVE this stuff. The only thing that pisses me off about dying, is that I'm going to miss the next big discovery...

    excon

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Black Holes [ 25 Answers ]

Are Black Holes vortexes or something that take you somewhere else? I just wanted to know where do black holes take you. I know how they're made, (a really giant star collapsed on its on weight) but I wanted to know were they take you, when and who discovered. Thanks

More on creating black holes [ 26 Answers ]

In topic īblack holes` I mentioned that at Cern they expect in the process to create (ultra small) black holes. But as we should expect small black holes to grow into big black holes, all our hope should be on Stephen Hawkins who predicted that ultra small black holes will evaporate. Let's hope he...

Natural black hair that's dyed black, how can I lighten it? [ 2 Answers ]

Hi im new to this! Ive been dying my hair black for about 2 years. My hair is naturally very dark brown/almost black already. Id really like to color it a light brown. should i strip my hair color, then proceedto try a light brown? thanks so much for any kind of help!:o


View more questions Search