Is a singularity necessarily a single point?

[beansbaxter]

And if so, shouldn't all black holes be the same size even though mass may vary?

 

[Bremen]

When we talk about the size of a black hole people generally refer to its gravity well, or more specifically where the event horizon is (the point where even light cannot escape). Oddly enough the more massive a black hole is the smaller this area is.

 

[bobsmith1492]

Of course, it IS all theory, as no one has visited a black hole yet.

 

[grant2]

If a black hole = a singularity, yes.

 

[jagec]

not all black holes ARE singularities. Also, black holes can gain OR lose mass due to very strange interactions (apparently there's a spontaneous process that produces one matter particle and one antimatter particle. Normally they find each other and disappear, but near a black hole sometimes the antimatter particle is sucked in, decreasing its mass)

 

[Psych]

A black hole isn't a singularity. It is something that has mass and volume just like anything else. If all the matter was truly compressed into a singularity, than the volume would have to be 0, making the density infinity. Besides, black holes can die, change shape, and explode. Their gravity wells just kind of distort the more familiar principles of nature. I personally hope the wells tear apart the membranes that house the other dimensions, so we can go to another *verses. (refers to possibly outdated string theory)

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: jagec
not all black holes ARE singularities. Also, black holes can gain OR lose mass due to very strange interactions (apparently there's a spontaneous process that produces one matter particle and one antimatter particle. Normally they find each other and disappear, but near a black hole sometimes the antimatter particle is sucked in, decreasing its mass)

I believe that's called Hawking evaporation (Stephen Hawking first hypothesised this.)

Also, I theoretically, a point singularity would have infinite density and 0 volume. But, if the black hole is rotating, it would have a ring singularity. Again, 0 volume and infinite density (if I'm not mistaken.) I'm far from an expert, but do enjoy reading as much as I can in my free time about this and several other topics.

 

[JediJeb]

I need to go find my old book to check this out but I do remember the part about the ring singularity. It is an older book, early 80's I think and it was called Black Holes and Warped Spacetime which gave a really good explaination of Einstein's theories on the subject. It even talks about the Einstein-Rosen Bridge aka wormhole and the possibility of using them for faster than light travel. There were also theoretical diagrams of how different types of black holes would lead to different universes if approached in different ways. If you like the subject I would highly recommend the book.

 

[ant80]

What is the difference between a point singularity and a ring singularity?

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: ant80
What is the difference between a point singularity and a ring singularity?

Here's an interesting site

 

[AluminumStudios]

This might be drifting slightly off topic, but smaller black holes have more turbulant, violent, event horizons, correct?

Is there such a thing as a mass that is almost a black hole but not quite? A star that doesnt' have sufficient nuclear reactions to keep it bloated out into a star, but enough to keep it from collapsing fully into a signulatiry? Would it be possible for such a star to be dark, but emit a little light eratically and suck in some light, but not all?

Or is it always fated to be one or the other - star or black hole?

Just a curiosity

 

[f95toli]

I think you are describing a neutron star.
And they do exist (we can see them, or at least the radiation they send out).

 

[JediJeb]

IIRC after a star goes nova and sheds the outside and shrinks its core becomes so dense that only neutrons survive, the protons and electrons are fused into neutrons. As the star cools further the internal pressure becomes less and less and it shrinks and becomes more dense and there is a point where it becomes so dense that the gravity exerts a force great enough just above the surface that it will pull light into it, that is when it becomes a black hole. I guess at some point it would be just on the verge of being dense enough and would do some really strange things.

 

[PCTweaker5]

Weird question but is it known how time differs in different parts of the universe or does gravity somehow control time? That being said, is it possible to go back into time here on earth?

 

[Ninjazx]

I believe that to depend on your perception of time, that of a universal constant. If it IS a universal constant, then theoretically it is possible, since we know time to be distorted during certain events- however, I do not believe time to be constant, only the closest thing we have to it.

But being smart enough to know I dont know, I cant actually answer your question, because I don't know

 

[PCTweaker5]

Originally posted by: Ninjazx
I believe that to depend on your perception of time, that of a universal constant. If it IS a universal constant, then theoretically it is possible, since we know time to be distorted during certain events- however, I do not believe time to be constant, only the closest thing we have to it.

But being smart enough to know I dont know, I cant actually answer your question, because I don't know

Like tripping on acid? lol