A black hole is a space where gravity pulls so much that even light cannot get out. Gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.
Because no light can get out, they are invisible. Space telescopes with special tools can help find black holes. The special tools can see how stars very close to black holes act differently than other stars.
Kundan International School, the best CBSE school in Chandigarh always try to spark curiosity among student which such intriguing topics. Let’s know more about these amazing cosmic entities.
How Big Are Black Holes?
Black holes can be big or small. Scientists think the smallest black holes are as small as just one atom. These black holes are very tiny but have the mass of a large mountain. Mass is an object’s amount of matter, or “stuff,”.
Another kind of black hole is called a “stellar.” Its mass can be up to 20 times more than the sun. There may be many stellar mass black holes in Earth’s galaxy. Earth’s galaxy is called the Milky Way.
The giant black holes are called “supermassive.” These black holes have masses that are more than 1 million suns together. Scientists have found proof that every large galaxy contains a supermassive black hole at its centre. The supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy is called Sagittarius A. It has a mass of about 4 million suns and would fit inside a giant ball that could hold a few million Earths.
How Do Black Holes Form?
Scientists think the smallest black holes formed when the universe began.
Stellar black holes are made when the centre of a colossal star falls upon itself or collapses. When this happens, it causes a supernova. A supernova is an exploding star that blasts part of the star into space.
Scientists think supermassive black holes were made simultaneously in the galaxy they are in.
If Black Holes Are “Black,” How Do Scientists Know They Are There?
A black hole can not be seen because strong gravity pulls all of the light into the middle of the black hole. However, scientists can see how strong gravity affects the stars and gas around the black hole. Scientists can study stars to find out if they are flying around, or orbiting, a black hole.
When a black hole and a star are close together, high-energy light is made. This kind of light can not be seen with human eyes. Scientists use satellites and telescopes in space to see high-energy light.
Could a Black Hole Destroy Earth?
Black holes do not go around in space, eating stars, moons and planets. Earth will not fall into a black hole because no black hole is close enough to the solar system for Earth to do that.
Even if a black hole with the same mass as the sun were to take the place of the sun, Earth still would not fall in. The black hole would have the same gravity as the sun. Earth and the other planets would orbit the black hole as they orbit the sun now.
The sun will never turn into a black hole. The sun is not a big enough star to turn into a black hole.
How Is NASA Studying Black Holes?
NASA uses satellites and telescopes travelling in space to learn more about black holes. These spacecraft help scientists answer questions about the universe.
Conclusion:
Black holes become one of physics’ greatest mysteries . When objects breach the event horizon and spiral into the singularity, scientists are unable to describe what happens. Till date black holes still remain a mystery for the human intelligence to solve. That’s why black holes are one of the most fascinating natural phenomenon in the cosmos. Being the best international school in Chandigarh we always try to enlighten student with out of the box ideas and such scientific concepts.
Miss Nikita Ashat
P.G.T. Physics