Some questions regarding the singularity of a black hole?

Question

I understand that what we know about black holes is mostly just speculation and what we can assume from our currently knowledge of the universe, but if you could try and answer these questions it would be great.

First, at a singularity do particles break down into a single point of mass with no definition? In other words would an electron no longer be an electron? And if (hypothetically) the gravitational force was removed, could the particles/ matter that was in the singularity be restored? So if say 5 of particle y, and 10 of particle z went in, would 5 particle y and 10 particle z be released? Or is all definition of the particle lost?

Answer 1

To the dismay of previous answers, black holes do have singularities in the center. In a black hole, you have a gravitational singularity, which is defined as "a point in spacetime in which gravitational forces cause matter to have an infinite density and zero volume". Really, though, we aren't completely sure what happens in the middle of a black hole, which is why it is a singularity.



First, we must undersand what the problem is with a black hole. First, you have Quantum Mechanics which descibes the various forces acting on atomic and sub-atomic particles. Then, you have Einstein's Relativity which describes the force (gravity) of large bodies such as planets and stars. So, we have a black hole. In a black hole, it is generally understood to be an area of space-time where you have a mass of a sun or many suns in an area the size of an atom. Therefore, do we use QM to describe what happens in the midst of a black hole since the mass is compressed to the sizze of an atom, or do we use Relativity since it generate the gravity of a stellar body? Or perhaps do we use both?



The funny thing is that neither QM or Relativity can adequately describe what goes on in the middle of a black hole. And, when you combine QM and R, you get nonsensical answers. Our inability to unite QM and R is what causes our lack of understanding concerning what happens in the middle of a black hole. When we finally unite these basic forces, then we'll be able to answer some if not all of our questions concerning a black hole.



AS for your question concerning things that go into a black hole, it is generally understood that all information is lost once it enters a black hole. We don't know this for a fact since it is all speculation at best, but even people like Hawking don't think information is perserved. So, whatever goes in is pretty much lost.



"According to the "No Hair" theorem a black hole has only three independent physical properties: mass, charge and angular momentum.[17] Any two black holes that share the same values for these properties are completely indistinguishable. This contrasts with other astrophysical objects such as stars, which have very many—possibly infinitely many—parameters. Consequently, a great deal of information is lost when a star collapses to form a black hole. Since in most physical theories information is (in some sense) preserved, this loss of information in black holes is puzzling. Physicists refer to this as the black hole information paradox." -Wikipedia



Therefore, we have a paradox, and honestly your question cannot be resolutely answered as of yet. When it comes right down to it, we have no idea what happens in the center of a black hole. But, one thing is certain: anything that enters its gravitational pull will be sucked in and stretched like speghetti. What happens in the center we don't know, but before you get there, it very well would be a very painful and unreal death.

Answer 2

Ryan D is incorrect - While the Event Horizon of a Black Hole can have a defined radius, at the center is a singularity. We do not have the science yet to determine what happens there, so any comments about the electron retaining some characteristics is conjecture. Hawking, among others, have done some theoretical work on just this question of information being retained, but there obviously is no evidence that it happens.



And the poster who mentioned the jets - they do not escape from the Black Hole itself (or the region of the Event Horizon). Jets come from the intense heat and radiation that forms from material infalling to the Event Horizon. The forces operating in this area are obviously very intense, and energy shoots out at a 90 degree angle to the accretion disk that feeds the hole, or along the Black Hole's 'polar' regions. A large part of these jets are X-rays and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. They do not come from the Black Hole itself, however.

Answer 3

Black holes arent singularities....they have a radius. Really the only thing that separates a black hole form normal matter is that they are so dense that light can't escape from them at a certain point.



also electrons do have mass. It is possible to change things like protons into other particles if they hit with enough energy to overcome the nuclear forces and 'exchange quarks'. leptons like the electron though cannot change unless they annihilate with a positron with enough kinetic energy as to create other particles with a rest mass + kinetic energy equal to what went into the annihilation. However there are theories regarding information in a black hole.



I'm not a black hole expert but from what i recall i do believe information is conserved in a black hole so that particles do remain the same unless some nuclear reactions do occur. Don't quote me on this last paragraph.

Answer 4

1. It does follow the laws of physics - gravity. A black 'hole' is a region of space that surounds a super dense object (as you say a singularity) the region appears black because light is bent around and into it so no light from or passing it can reach us. 2. It just gets crushed down. 4. The Big Bang is a model that describes an observed event - the fact the universe is has and continues to expand. It does not deal with what cause the expansion or where the universe came from. Both of which are currently UNKNOWN.

Answer 5

Its been proven (for what it is worth) that Black holes have ONLY four properties which completely define them:

Mass, Charge, Rotation (angular momentum), and Location (4D).

This is the "no hair" theorem. That means that they have no other independent properties: no density, no temperature, no internal structure. (At least if they have any other property it is completely defined by these 4). This theorem is based on the Physics of the late 20th Century and is probably flawed since quantum fields and gravity are yet to be reconciled and a black hole needs both to function.

Hawking radiation is a Quantum effect where black holes evaporate and lose mass/energy. The matter/energy "released" from the black hole depends on the quantum flucuations of the vacuum around the black hole and will basically radiate random particles - as I understand it. But wtfdik?

How is a charge conserved if there are no electrons nor gluons nor quarks inside, you ask.

IDK.

Answer 6

Inside a black hole we also enter the realm of quantum mechanics due to small size and high energy and so is impossible to know everything about the particles.



I imagine particles will be constantly being converted to photons and to exotic particles like during a particle accelerator where conditions are similar to a black hole singularity (tiny volume and huge energies) or perhaps broken down into fundamental particles only?



Boson's will be more likely since they are more enegetiaclly favourable as they can occopy the same quantum state as they are exempt from the pauli exclusion principle.

Answer 7

it seems like very few people that answered here know anything.



according to the no hair theorem, any black hole can be characterized by ONLY three things: mass, electric charge, and angular momentum. all other information about the particles that enter it are lost, that includes what those particles are.

Answer 8

Matter would have to exist in a black hole, otherwise the black hole would loose its mass and therefore wouldn't be a black hole anymore, but, by definition, a black hole has such mass and density that nothing can escape its gravitational force. Electrons have zero mass, but protons entering a black hole would still remain as protons because if there mass was converted into pure energy, then the mass of the black hole would convert to pure energy as well.



hmmm, something to ponder over.

Answer 9

My question would be is a singularity a Boson or a Fermion?



Stephen Hawking radiation happens when there is the ergo sphere of warping nearby space field-time dimension continuum pulling out the matter and energy from the singularity...I may be wrong though, double check

Answer 10

YOUR RE-DEFINING EINSTEIN PARTICLES: MASS IS IN IT SELF IS IN TIME AND SPACE FOR SUCH FOR BLACK HOLES.... BLACK HOLES ARE MADE BY THE WEIGHT OF THE MASS OUTSIDE SO REALLY YOUR QUESTION DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING?

Answer 11

how about all matter/mass is converted into pure energy?



gravity would also merge into this pure energy form at the heart of the singularity.



Anything ejected from the BH through jets is high energy/high frequency stuff. Perhaps through coalescence, matter can be reformed.