• Question: How are black holes formed in space?

    Asked by MattB to Hephzi, Imogen, Jen, Jennifer, Tom on 9 Mar 2015. This question was also asked by Aswin.
    • Photo: Imogen Napper

      Imogen Napper answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      A black hole is a region in space where the pulling force of gravity is so strong that light is not able to escape. The strong gravity occurs because matter has been pressed into a tiny space. This compression can take place at the end of a star’s life. Some black holes are a result of dying stars.
      Because no light can escape, black holes are invisible. However, space telescopes with special instruments can help find black holes. They can observe the behavior of material and stars that are very close to black holes.

    • Photo: Thomas Barrett

      Thomas Barrett answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      Black holes have a HUUGE gravity because they are so small and so heavy. They are usually the remains of particularly large stars. Black holes can come in a range of sizes, but there are three main types of black holes. The black hole’s mass and size determine what kind it is.

      The smallest ones are known as primordial black holes. Scientists believe this type of black hole is as small as a single atom but with the mass of a large mountain.

      The most common type of medium-sized black holes is called “stellar.” The mass of a stellar black hole can be up to 20 times greater than the mass of the sun and can fit inside a ball with a diameter of about 10 miles. Dozens of stellar mass black holes may exist within the Milky Way galaxy.

      The largest black holes are called “supermassive.” (Yes like the muse song) These black holes have masses greater than 1 million suns combined and would fit inside a ball with a diameter about the size of the solar system. Scientific evidence suggests that every large galaxy contains a supermassive black hole at its center. The supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy is called Sagittarius A. It has a mass equal to about 4 million suns and would fit inside a ball with a diameter about the size of the sun.

      For a funny black hole video go here 🙂
      http://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/science/across-the-sciences/60-second-adventures-astronomy-0?track=12

    • Photo: Hephzi Tagoe

      Hephzi Tagoe answered on 10 Mar 2015:

      Don’t know about space I’m afraid.

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