is there really such thing as a "Black Hole" in space?

Question

just very curious =/

Answer 1

Yes.
A black hole is an object with a gravitational field so powerful that even electromagnetic radiation (such as light) cannot escape its pull.
Both Newtonian physics and Einstein's general relativity predict the existence of black holes.

Answer 2

A black hole is an object such that the escape speed is greater than the speed of light. The result is that, among other things, even light cannot escape it.

We have never seen a black hole directly.

However, astronomers have directly measured the orbit (size, and period) of a star very close to our Galaxy's centre. From the orbit, they can calculate the mass of the central object around which this star orbits.

Given the mass and the volume in which this mass must fit (it cannot be bigger than the star's orbit!), then the central object must have an escape speed greater than the speed of light. Therefore, it is a black hole (but we have not seen the central object itself).

Also, massive objects in "dirty areas" of space -- among dust, gas and so on -- tend to accrete the stuff. the space dirt falls towards the central mass and concentrates in a disk around the central mass. As it does so, particles rub against each other and generate heat, light and other type of radiation. By analysing the radiation, we can determine how much energy is generated by all the rubbing around. From that, we can make conclusions about the mass of the central object.

We have observed radiation that is so strong that it comes from molecules and even atoms being ripped apart by tidal forces. The only way we have to explain how the dust in the disk can generate so much radiation is to imagine a central object with a very large mass. We already have an idea of the maximum volume it can occuppy (by calculating the inside diameter of the disk of dust): therefore, we conclude that the central object is a black hole.

Again, we see the radiation from the disk, we do not see the black hole at the centre.

Are these things really "black holes"? According to what we know about physics, they must be because we know of nothing else that could give the results we measure.

However, there are scientists who are trying to find other ways to explain our observations. Maybe, one day, they will find the "something else" that explains what we see, or, perhaps, they will find the proof that there are really black holes.

Answer 3

Yes, there are! The Hubble space telescope has quite a few picture of them. I would highly recommend going to the Hubble home page at NASA.gov, there are tons of pics of black holes. I love to ones of the black holes venting they look like tops.

They are not a void, they are the absolute opposite of a void. They are a star that has exhausted all its energy and grown too large. It collapses under the force of it's own gravity and eventually becomes a black hole. Eventually a black hole will expend all it's energy through venting and whatnot.

Answer 4

yes there is. When a star about 30 times the size of our sun runs out of fuel, it loses the battle against its own gravity and implodes until it's so dense that its gravity won't even let light escape. This is why its called a black hole because no light can be seen from it.

Answer 5

Nowadays astronomers think that there is a black hole in the center of each galaxy. This is supported by theory and observation as well.

Black holes are called so because gravity is so intense in its interior that even light cannot escape from it.

Answer 6

Yes

Answer 7

Absolutely

Answer 8

The thing about blackholes is clearly theory gone badly and nothing else. Theory says thet are real but the proof cannot be established and its one of the reasons discoverys are always making revisions of the theory necessary. But, its an issue that cannot be rationally kicked around as you can tell from answers to any questioning of the belief system.

Answer 9

Well, no, not really. A black hole is a void in the space-time continuum. It's "black" because there's apparently no light that can escape its point de non-retourne. As for the hole, its a hole in the 3D continuum of time and space. What's there not to understand?

Answer 10

Yes.