Centrifugal Forces and Black Holes

In summary, centrifugal forces play a crucial role in the formation and behavior of black holes. These powerful forces, caused by the rotation of massive objects, counteract the inward pull of gravity and prevent the collapse of matter into a singularity. However, once a black hole is formed, centrifugal forces also contribute to the intense spinning motion of the singularity, creating a strong gravitational pull that can trap even light. This phenomenon, known as the centrifugal barrier, is what makes black holes one of the most fascinating and mysterious objects in the universe.
  • #1
stevebd1
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I thought this may be an isolated idea but on doing a search on the web, there seems to be a common interest in the idea that centrifugal force reverses near a black hole. Below are a couple of links-

http://www.npl.washington.edu/av/altvw55.html"

http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/1990MNRAS.245..720A/0000720.000.html"

http://arxiv.org/abs/0903.1113v1"

The same subject was mentioned in https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=10369" (post #4).

According to most sources, it appears that the reactive centrifuge becomes zero at the photon sphere, my question is, how does this fit into the centripetal acceleration equation? I had a look the relativistic equation for the tangential velocity required for a stable orbit in Kerr metric and reduced it for a Schwarzschild solution (see https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=354583"). Based on ac=ag (where ac is centripetal acceleration and ag is gravity), the only way the equations would work is if centripetal acceleration reduced in accordance with the redshift, becoming zero at the event horizon and negative beyond the EH.

This works also with the Kerr metric where frame dragging increases exponentially within the ergoregion, without ac being reduced, it would appear that objects would tend to be thrown out of the ergoregion before crossing the EH but if ac reduces in accordance with the redshift, then the object is overcome by gravity regardless of it's tangential velocity (relative to infinity) and crosses the event horizon.
 
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  • #2
I think this is an ineresting question worth exploring. I have seen this claim too several times while browsing around the subject. The intuitive heuristic picture is that a particle requires to be orbiting at the speed of light at the photon sphere in order not to lose altitude, and so at a radius of less than 3M it is impossible for a freely orbiting particle to maintain altitude because it would have to have a tangential velocity greater than the speed of light.

I think it would be interesting to try and work out if a purely radially falling particle with zero angular momentum is dropped from r=3M, would it arrive at the event horizon after a second particle released from the same point at the same time, that has non-zero angular momentum?
 
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  • #3
I am skeptical so far because Leonard Susskind's THE BLACK HOLE WAR and Kip Thorne's BLACK HOLES AND TIME WARPS, both recent publications, give many explanations of black hole effects and never mention such a reversal.

It's so unexpected that I would think at least one of those authors would have mentioned it because they do discuss a number of other "strange" phenomena, like thermal vs virtual radiation, time dilation, the string nature of black holes, and a number of other "unexpected" phenomena...

I look forward to reading more here.
 
  • #4
I have done a rough calculation using the Lagrangian equations of motion and the Schwarzschild metric and obtained this equation:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt} = (1-2M/r)\sqrt{1-\frac{(1-2M/r)}{(1-2M/R)}\frac{(1+L^2/r^2)}{(1+L^2/R^2)}}[/tex]

This equation is defined for [itex]\theta = \pi/2[/itex] and [itex]d\theta = 0[/tex] to simplify things. R is the height of the path apogee and L is the angular momentum per unit rest mass defined as:

[tex]L = r^2\frac{d\phi}{ds}[/tex]

L is a constant and since it is defined in terms of the proper time of the orbiting particle, L can take any value between zero and infinity.

Checking the equation numerically, a large value of L at large R and r can produce negative* dr/dt which seems reasonable. When R=3M (the photon sphere radius) and 2M<r<3M it seems that any arbitrarily large value of L can not produce a negative fall rate dr/dt, which is also in agreement with our expectations. However a particle with non-zero angular momentum falls slower than a particle with zero angular momentum even for R<=3M. This implies that centrifugal reactive force does not reverse below r=3M. Non-zero angular momentum does not increase the rate of fall. Rather, it slows the descent between r=3M and r=2M but the acceleration due to gravity is always greater than the reactive centrifugal acceleration below r=3M, for any value of L(assuming my equation is correct).

In the literature most of the equations for the motion of a particle near a black hole are in terms of dr/ds rather dr/dt as I have done here. The trouble with using dr/ds is that a particle with horizontal motion approaching the speed of light experiences significant time dilation due to its horizontal motion, making the vertical fall rate appear to increase. Using the proper time of the particle also makes it difficult to compare the fall rates of two different particles with different trajectories. Using coordinate velocity dr/dt allows a direct comparison of the fall rate of two particles.

*If anyone is curious how a real negative fall rate can fall out the equation when it seems to produce an imaginary result, just ask :wink:

Disclaimer: This equation is based on a non rigorous derivation with plenty of room for error and is offered in good faith as a starting point for discussion.
 
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  • #5
kev said:
Disclaimer: This equation is based on a non rigorous derivation with plenty of room for error and is offered in good faith as a starting point for discussion.

That would be awesome if you also included in your post the proof procedure.

L is a constant and since it is defined in terms of the proper time of the orbiting particle, L can take any value between zero and infinity.

The first part is not a reason for why L is a constant from a rigorous viewpoint. If the last of geodesic equations in Schwarzschild metric is integrated, then L appears to be the constant of integration and from the conservation law for the angular momentum of the particle, it is obvious that the angular momentum is a conserved quantity (no matter whatever value between zero and infinity it has) and this is backed when L is a constant. .

AB
 
  • #6
Altabeh said:
That would be awesome if you also included in your post the proof procedure.

AB

I would not call this a proof, just my thought process. I might be way off base.

Starting with Schwarzschild metric and assuming orbital motion in a plane about the equator such that [itex]\theta = \pi/2[/itex] and [itex]d\theta = 0[/itex]
(Due to the spherical symmetry of the metric we can define the equator to be wherever we like, for convenience.)

[tex]ds^2=\alpha dt^2-\frac{1}{\alpha}dr^2-r^2d\phi^2[/tex]

[tex]\alpha=1-\frac{2m}{r}[/tex]

Solve for dr/dt:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt} = \sqrt{ \alpha^2 - \alpha (\frac{rd\phi}{dt})^2 - \alpha(\frac{ds}{dt})^2} [/tex]

The equations of motion where K and L are defined as constants are given as:

[tex]K = \alpha \frac{dt}{ds}[/tex]

[tex]L = r^2 \frac{d\phi}{ds}[/tex]

As far as I know, the proofs of why these values are constant are non-trivial and involve Killing vectors or Noether's theorem, which I do not pretend to understand.
If it is trivial and someone cares to elucidate, then please feel free to do so :smile:

Substitute these constants into the equation for dr/dt given above:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt} = \sqrt{ \alpha^2 - \frac{\alpha^3}{K^2} \frac{L^2}{r^2} - \frac{\alpha^3}{K^2}} =\alpha \sqrt{ 1- \frac{\alpha}{K^2}(1+L^2/r^2)} [/tex]

Now obtain an alternative formulation of K by solving the original Schwarzschild metric for [itex]\alpha^2dt^2/ds^2[/itex]:

[tex]\alpha^2 (\frac{dt}{ds})^2 = K^2 = \alpha + (\frac{dr}{ds})^2 + \alpha (\frac{rd\phi}{ds})^2[/tex]

Now K is a constant and I "fix" its value at the apogee (or perigree) where dr/ds=0 so that the alternative form of K is defined as:

[tex]K^2 = (1-2M/r ) + (1-2M/r) (\frac{rd\phi}{ds})^2 = (1-2M/R ) + (1-2M/R)(L^2/R^2)[/tex]

[tex]K^2 = (1-2M/R ) (1 + L^2/R^2) [/tex]

This alternative form of K^2 takes into account angular motion and is substituted into the equation for dr/dt above:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt} = (1-2M/r)\sqrt{1-\frac{(1-2M/r)}{(1-2M/R)}\frac{(1+L^2/r^2)}{(1+L^2/R^2)}}[/tex]

which is the equation I gave earlier. I am sure some people will consider it a bit hacky :wink:
 
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  • #7
The common census seems to be that centrifuge reduces to zero at the photon sphere but there also seems to be some evidence that reactive centrifugal force reduces to zero at the event horizon synonymous with the redshift. If we look at the Kepler equation for a stable orbit in Schwarzschild metric-

[tex]v_s=\frac{\pm\sqrt{M}\,r^2}{\sqrt{r^2-2Mr}\,r^{3/2}}[/tex]

If we incorporate the results for vs into ac=ag where [itex]a_c=f(r)v_s^2/r[/itex] where f(r) is a function relative to r, and [itex]a_g=M/(r^2 \sqrt(1-2M/r))[/itex] which is the equation for gravity in Schwarzschild metric, we get-

[tex]f(r)\frac{v_s^2}{r}=\frac{M}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}}[/tex]

substituting for vs and rearranging the equation, we get-

[tex]f(r)=\frac{(r^2-2Mr)}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}}=\sqrt{1-2M/r}[/tex]

Using this function, we can also demonstrate that the max tangential velocity of 1 (i.e. c) is at the photon sphere (3M)-

[tex]\sqrt{1-2M/r}\,\frac{v_s^2}{r}=\frac{M}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}}[/tex]

which when r=3M reduces to-

[tex]v_s=\sqrt{\frac{M}{r\,(1-2M/r)}}=1[/tex]

gravitational acceleration is understood in Schwarzschild metric and the above tells us at the very least that something is going on with centripetal acceleration in extreme gravity fields.
 
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  • #8
kev said:
which is the equation I gave earlier. I am sure some people will consider it a bit hacky :wink:

I checked every line of it carefully and I have to say it is 100% flawless!

As far as I know, the proofs of why these values are constant are non-trivial and involve Killing vectors or Noether's theorem, which I do not pretend to understand.

For this, first we have to prove the following theorem about Killing vectors. I take into account that you're a little bit familiar with Killing vectors.

Theorem. Let [tex]\xi[/tex] be a Killing vector field i.e. it satisfies the Killing equation[tex]\nabla_a\xi_b+\nabla_b\xi_a=0.[/tex] Assume that [tex]S[/tex] is a geodesic with tangent vector [tex]u^a.[/tex] Then [tex]\xi_au^a[/tex] is constant along S.

Proof. Start with the following simple expansion,

[tex]u^b\nabla_b(\xi_au^a) = u^au^b\nabla_b\xi_a+\xi_au^b\nabla_b u^a.[/tex]

From the geodesic equation one knows that the second equation is clearly zero, and by multiplying the Killing equation by [tex]u^au^b[/tex] we can also obtain

[tex]u^au^b\nabla_b\xi_a+u^au^b\nabla_a\xi_b=2u^au^b\nabla_a\xi_b=0[/tex]

which is the first term on the right-hand side of the above expansion. And we are done.

Now if we calculate the Killing vectors of the Schwarzschild metric, it can be well-understood that the only nun-null vectors are

[tex](\partial/ \partial \phi)^a=(0,0,0,1)[/tex]

and

[tex](\partial/ \partial t)^a=(1,0,0,0).[/tex]

This is so because the Schwarzschild metric is independent of [tex]t[/tex] and [tex]\phi[/tex] and this follows that the Lie derivative of metric tensor would be zero if [tex]\xi^a=(\partial/ \partial t)^a[/tex] or [tex]\xi^a=(\partial/ \partial {\phi})^a.[/tex] Hence the above theorem yields

[tex]L=\xi_au^a=\xi^bg_{ab}u^a=\xi^bg_{ab}u^a=r^2\sin^(\theta)\dot{\phi},[/tex]
[tex]E=\xi_au^a=\xi^bg_{ab}u^a=\xi^bg_{ab}u^a=-(1-2m/r)\dot {t}.[/tex]

Each of these corresponds to a special conservation law; but how? Let me first give a more intuitive form of these equations so the rest of discussion could be better pinned down. Here I want to compute the [tex]t-[/tex] and [tex]\phi-[/tex] components of covariant 4-velocity along the geodesics of the Schwarzschild metric. To do so, I simply follow the general formula

[tex]u_a=g_{ab}u^b.[/tex]

Therefore

[tex]u_0=g_{00}u^0=-(1-2m/r)\dot{t}=const.[/tex]
[tex]u_3=g_{33}u^3=r^2\dot{\phi}=const.[/tex]

where I made use of the previous forms of L and E and also put [tex]\theta=\pi/2[/tex] without loss of generality. These versions of equations of L and E are easily seen to be compatible with the following form of the geodesic equation,

[tex]\dot{u}_a=\frac{1}{2}\partial_ag_{bc}u^bu^c[/tex]

where the over-dot represents the differentiation wrt the parameter of geodesics, e.g. [tex]s[/tex]. Introducing [tex]a=0[/tex] and [tex]3[/tex] into this equation, respectively, gives

[tex]\dot{u}_0=0,[/tex]
[tex]\dot{u}_3=0.[/tex]

Which verifies our newly obtained equations for [tex]u_3[/tex] and [tex]u_0[/tex] above. Actually the first equation is related to the conservation of the energy of a test particle moving in a time-independent field. To wit, the energy of the particle with a rest mass [tex]m_0[/tex] is given by [tex]m_0u_0[/tex] and thus by being a constant it is invariant under time translations which inspires the conservation law of energy. On the other hand the angular momentum in GR is defined in any plane about the equator to be

[tex]m_0r^2\dot{\phi}.[/tex]

Since this is a constant, by construction, we are led to believe that its value is invariant under [tex]\phi[/tex]-angle translations, confirming the conservation law of angular momentum.

Hope this helps.

AB
 
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  • #9
Altabeh said:
I checked every line of it carefully and I have to say it is 100% flawless!

Thanks for checking it out Altabeh :smile: Thanks also for showing the proof for the constants of motion using Killing vectors. I am only just starting to learn about tensors so the explanation is little above my pay grade, but I will refer back to it as I learn more.


stevebd1 said:
The common census seems to be that centrifuge reduces to zero at the photon sphere but there also seems to be some evidence that reactive centrifugal force reduces to zero at the event horizon synonymous with the redshift. If we look at the Kepler equation for a stable orbit in Schwarzschild metric-

[tex]v_s=\frac{\pm\sqrt{M}\,r^2}{\sqrt{r^2-2Mr}\,r^{3/2}}[/tex]

If we incorporate the results for vs into ac=ag where [itex]a_c=f(r)v_s^2/r[/itex] where f(r) is a function relative to r, and [itex]a_g=M/(r^2 \sqrt(1-2M/r))[/itex] which is the equation for gravity in Schwarzschild metric, we get-

[tex]f(r)\frac{v_s^2}{r}=\frac{M}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}}[/tex]

Hi Steve, I see what you are trying to do here, but unfortunately the term on the right for gravitational acceleration is only valid for a stationary particle and the velocity due to orbital motion changes things. I will post the (hopefully) correct term in the next post.
 
  • #10
[EDIT] To avoid confusion with the L symbol for the Lagragian, I have relabelled the conserved angular momentum per unit rest mass as H so that the constant is now:

[tex]H = r^2 \frac{d\phi}{ds}[/tex]

===========================

Start with the radial coordinate velocity of a free falling particle given earlier:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt} = (1-2M/r)\sqrt{1-\frac{(1-2M/r)}{(1-2M/R)}\frac{(1+H^2/r^2)}{(1+H^2/R^2)}} \:\: (eq1)[/tex]

Differentiate the above to obtain the coordinate radial acceleration of a free falling particle:

[tex] a = \frac{d^2r}{dt^2} = \frac{d(dr/dt)}{dr}\frac{dr}{dt} =
-\frac{M}{r^2}(1-M/r)\left(\frac{(1-2M/r)}{(1-2M/R)}\left(3\frac{(1+H^2/r^2)}{(1+H^2/R^2)} - \frac{H^2}{rM}\frac{(1-2M/r)}{(1+H^2/R^2)}\right) - 2 \right)\:\: (eq2) [/tex]

Not too pretty eh, but as a quick check, if H is set to zero we get the purely coordinate acceleration given by mathpages here: http://www.mathpages.com/rr/s6-07/6-07.htm

If we set R=r and H=0 the expected coordinate acceleration for a particle at apogee is obtained.

For your purposes we need the local acceleration ([itex]a_g'[/itex]) and this can be obtained by using the method shown in this post in a different thread https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=2747788&postcount=345

The local acceleration a' using the notation [itex]\gamma_g = 1/\sqrt{(1-2M/r)}[/itex] is:

[tex] a' = \frac{d^2r'}{dt'\,^2} = \frac{d^2r}{dt\,^2}\gamma_g^3 - \frac{2M}{r^2}\left(\frac{dr}{dt}\right)^2 \gamma_g^5
=-\frac{M}{r^2}\gamma_g \left(\frac{(1-2M/r)}{(1-2M/R)}\left(3\frac{(1+H^2/r^2)}{(1+H^2/R^2)} - \frac{H^2}{rM}\frac{(1-2M/r)}{(1+H^2/R^2)}\right) - 2 \right) - \frac{2M}{r^2}\left(\frac{dr}{dt}\right)^2 \gamma_g^5 \;\; (eq3) [/tex]

The equation for dr/dt is given by (eq1) and can be inserted into (eq3) to obtain:

[tex] a' = \frac{d^2r'}{dt'\,^2} = -\frac{M}{r^2} \frac{\sqrt{1-2M/r}}{(1-2M/R)}\left(\frac{(1+H^2/r^2)}{(1+H^2/R^2)} - \frac{H^2}{rM}\frac{(1-2M/r)}{(1+H^2/R^2)}\right) \;\; (eq4) [/tex]

(eq4) is the fully general local acceleration due to gravity of a particle at r that has a trajectory with its apogee at R and takes vertical and orbital motion into account. The only limitation is that the plane of the motion remains on the equatorial plane so that [itex]\theta=\pi/2[/itex] and [itex]d\theta =0[/itex].

To keep things fairly simple we can analyse the acceleration only at the turning point of the trajectory, so that dr/dt=0 and R=r and use (eq3) to obtain the local acceleration for this limited case [itex]a_{*}'[/itex] where the asterix in the subscript serves as a reminder that this equation is only valid at the apogee or perigee of a trajectory:

[tex] a_{*}' = -\frac{M}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}}+ \frac{H^2}{r^3}\frac{\sqrt{1-2M/r}}{(1+H^2/r^2)} \:\: (eq5) [/tex]


[tex] a_{*}' = -\frac{M}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}} + \frac{(rd\phi/d\tau)^2\sqrt{1-2M/r}}{r(1+(rd\phi/d\tau)^2)}\right) \:\;\: (eq6) [/tex]

If we call the local instantaneous tangential orbital velocity [itex]v_s[/itex] such that [itex]v_s^2/(1-v_s^2/c^2) = (rd\phi/d\tau)^2[/itex] then (eq6) can be written as:

[tex] a_{*}' = -\frac{M}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}} + \frac{ v_s^2\sqrt{1-2M/r}}{r} \:\: (eq7) [/tex]

[Note] The above has been edited to better define [tex]a_*'[/tex] as the acceleration at the turning point rather than the acceleration of a circular orbit, as I incorrectly stated the first time around. A circular orbit is defined by dr/dt=0 and d^2r/dt^2=0 both being true.
 
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  • #11
kev said:
As far as I know, the proofs of why these values are constant are non-trivial and involve Killing vectors or Noether's theorem

I think they just come from the lagrangian equations of motion for the geodesic. The lagrangian is
[tex]L = \sqrt{ g_{\mu\nu} \dot{x}^\mu \dot{x}^\nu } = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2}[/tex]
which is just the magnitude of the 4-velocity, which is 1, so it's constant along the geodesic.

The first two equations of motion are:
[tex]\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{t}} = \frac{\alpha \dot{t}}{L} = K[/tex]
and
[tex]\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{\phi}} = -\frac{r^2 \dot{\phi}}{L} = H[/tex]
where H is a constant the negative of your L (my L is my lagrangian!) Since the lagrangian is constant along the geodesic the constants you gave are constant.

I'm trying to continue the derivation using the lagrangian approach but it doesn't seem to be working- I can't find a way to get rid of the second derivatives [tex]\ddot{t}, \ddot{r}, \ddot{\phi}[/tex]. Anyone know if it's possible? Or is the whole point you end up with the accelerations?
 
  • #12
Tomsk said:
I think they just come from the lagrangian equations of motion for the geodesic. The lagrangian is
[tex]L = \sqrt{ g_{\mu\nu} \dot{x}^\mu \dot{x}^\nu } = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2}[/tex]
which is just the magnitude of the 4-velocity, which is 1, so it's constant along the geodesic.

The first two equations of motion are:
[tex]\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{t}} = \frac{\alpha \dot{t}}{L} = K[/tex]
and

[tex]\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{\phi}} = -\frac{r^2 \dot{\phi}}{L} = H[/tex]
where H is a constant the negative of your L (my L is my lagrangian!) Since the lagrangian is constant along the geodesic the constants you gave are constant.

I'm trying to continue the derivation using the lagrangian approach but it doesn't seem to be working- I can't find a way to get rid of the second derivatives [tex]\ddot{t}, \ddot{r}, \ddot{\phi}[/tex]. Anyone know if it's possible? Or is the whole point you end up with the accelerations?

If we take the (truncated) Schwarzschild metric as:

[tex]d\tau = \sqrt{\alpha {dt}^2 - \alpha^{-1}{dr}^2 - r^2 {d\phi}^2}[/tex]

and divide both sides by [itex]d\tau[/itex] we get:

[tex]1 = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2}[/tex]

so it seems reasonable to equate L with unity and leave L out of the equations so that the first two equations of motion are:

[tex]\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{t}} = \alpha \dot{t} = K[/tex]

and

[tex]\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{\phi}} = r^2 \dot{\phi} = H[/tex]

As for the problem with the second derivatives, I probably can't help, but I am sure someone here can if you post where they are popping up.
 
  • #13
kev said:
I would not call this a proof, just my thought process. I might be way off base.

Starting with Schwarzschild metric and assuming orbital motion in a plane about the equator such that [itex]\theta = \pi/2[/itex] and [itex]d\theta = 0[/itex]
(Due to the spherical symmetry of the metric we can define the equator to be wherever we like, for convenience.)

[tex]ds^2=\alpha dt^2-\frac{1}{\alpha}dr^2-r^2d\phi^2[/tex]

[tex]\alpha=1-\frac{2m}{r}[/tex]

Solve for dr/dt:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt} = \sqrt{ \alpha^2 - \alpha (\frac{rd\phi}{dt})^2 - \alpha(\frac{ds}{dt})^2} [/tex]

The equations of motion where K and L are defined as constants are given as:

[tex]K = \alpha \frac{dt}{ds}[/tex]

[tex]L = r^2 \frac{d\phi}{ds}[/tex]

As far as I know, the proofs of why these values are constant are non-trivial and involve Killing vectors or Noether's theorem, which I do not pretend to understand.

No, they are simply the trivial solutions of the Euler-Lagrange equations.

If it is trivial and someone cares to elucidate, then please feel free to do so :smile:

Substitute these constants into the equation for dr/dt given above:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt} = \sqrt{ \alpha^2 - \frac{\alpha^3}{K^2} \frac{L^2}{r^2} - \frac{\alpha^3}{K^2}} =\alpha \sqrt{ 1- \frac{\alpha}{K^2}(1+L^2/r^2)} [/tex]

Nope, there is a much cleaner expression:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt}=\alpha\sqrt{1-\frac{L^2}{\alpha r^2}-\frac{\alpha}{K^2}}[/tex]


Now obtain an alternative formulation of K by solving the original Schwarzschild metric for [itex]\alpha^2dt^2/ds^2[/itex]:

[tex]\alpha^2 (\frac{dt}{ds})^2 = K^2 = \alpha + (\frac{dr}{ds})^2 + \alpha (\frac{rd\phi}{ds})^2[/tex]

Now K is a constant and I "fix" its value at the apogee (or perigree) where dr/ds=0

Why would dr/ds=0?


so that the alternative form of K is defined as:

[tex]K^2 = (1-2M/r ) + (1-2M/r) (\frac{rd\phi}{ds})^2 = (1-2M/R ) + (1-2M/R)(L^2/R^2)[/tex]

Where did [tex]R[/tex] come from? Besides, expressing K as a function of L doesn't solve anything since you don't know L.

It is much simpler to observe that [tex]K=(1-2m/r_0)\frac{dt}{ds}|_{s=0}[/tex]
 
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  • #14
kev said:
If we take the (truncated) Schwarzschild metric as:

[tex]d\tau = \sqrt{\alpha {dt}^2 - \alpha^{-1}{dr}^2 - r^2 {d\phi}^2}[/tex]

and divide both sides by [itex]d\tau[/itex] we get:

[tex]1 = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2}[/tex]

so it seems reasonable to equate L with unity and leave L out of the equations so that the first two equations of motion are:

This is not how it's done, you need to construct the Euler-Lagrange equations.
 
  • #15
kev said:
Substitute these constants into the equation for dr/dt given above:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt} = \sqrt{ \alpha^2 - \frac{\alpha^3}{K^2} \frac{L^2}{r^2} - \frac{\alpha^3}{K^2}} =\alpha \sqrt{ 1- \frac{\alpha}{K^2}(1+L^2/r^2)} [/tex]
starthaus said:
Nope, there is a much cleaner expression:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt}=\alpha\sqrt{1-\frac{L^2}{\alpha r^2}-\frac{\alpha}{K^2}}[/tex]

I prefer the correct version:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt}=\alpha\sqrt{1-\frac{\alpha L^2}{K^2 r^2}-\frac{\alpha}{K^2}}[/tex]

to the incorrect "cleaner version".

My version works out nice later :wink:

kev said:
Now K is a constant and I "fix" its value at the apogee (or perigree) where dr/ds=0 so that the alternative form of K is defined as:

[tex]K^2 = (1-2M/r ) + (1-2M/r) (\frac{rd\phi}{ds})^2 = (1-2M/R ) + (1-2M/R)(L^2/R^2)[/tex]
starthaus said:
Where did [tex]R[/tex] come from?

K is a constant and its value can be chosen anywhere along the trajectory. I choose to fix it at the apogee where dr/dt =0 for convenience by defining it in terms of constants R (the height of the apogee) and L (the conserved angular momentum) at that point.
 
  • #16
kev said:
i prefer the correct version:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt}=\alpha\sqrt{1-\frac{\alpha l^2}{k^2 r^2}-\frac{\alpha}{k^2}}[/tex]

to the incorrect "cleaner version".

:lol:
 
  • #17
kev said:
K is a constant and its value can be chosen anywhere along the trajectory. I choose to fix it at the apogee where dr/dt =0 for convenience by defining it in terms of constants R (the height of the apogee) and H (the conserved angular momentum) at that point.

But you don't know H .
 
  • #18
kev said:
I prefer the correct version:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt}=\alpha\sqrt{1-\frac{\alpha L^2}{K^2 r^2}-\frac{\alpha}{K^2}}[/tex]

to the incorrect "cleaner version".
starthaus said:
:lol:
Is that your way of saying you do not think my version is correct?

Please try and be constructive. We do want not this thread getting locked like the other ones. :frown:
 
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  • #19
starthaus said:
But you don't know H .

No, you define it. You don't know R either. Both are defined initial conditions.
 
  • #20
kev said:
Is that your way of saying you do not think my version is correct?

Nope:

[tex](\frac{dr}{dt})^2=\alpha^2-\alpha r^2(\frac{d\phi}{dt})^2-\alpha(\frac{ds}{dt})^2=\alpha^2-\alpha(\frac{L}{r})^2-\frac{\alpha^3}{K^2}[/tex]
 
  • #21
kev said:
[tex]d\tau = \sqrt{\alpha {dt}^2 - \alpha^{-1}{dr}^2 - r^2 {d\phi}^2}[/tex]

and divide both sides by [itex]d\tau[/itex] we get:

[tex]1 = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2}[/tex]
starthaus said:
This is not how it's done, you need to construct the Euler-Lagrange equations.

I was just making the observation that:

[tex]1 = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2}[/tex]

derived from the Schwarzschild metric looks a lot like:

[tex]L = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2}[/tex]

derived by Tomsk. It suggests to me that:

[tex]L = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2} = 1[/tex]

but maybe that is just a coincidence? :confused:
 
  • #22
kev said:
[tex]d\tau = \sqrt{\alpha {dt}^2 - \alpha^{-1}{dr}^2 - r^2 {d\phi}^2}[/tex]

and divide both sides by [itex]d\tau[/itex] we get:

[tex]1 = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2}[/tex]


I was just making the observation that:

[tex]1 = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2}[/tex]

derived from the Schwarzschild metric looks a lot like:

[tex]L = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2}[/tex]

derived by Tomsk. It suggests to me that:

[tex]L = \sqrt{\alpha \dot{t}^2 - \alpha^{-1}\dot{r}^2 - r^2 \dot{\phi}^2} = 1[/tex]

but maybe that is just a coincidence? :confused:

It just points that you don't know the Euler-Lagrange formalism that produces the equations of motion. We've been over this several times already.
 
  • #23
starthaus said:
Why would dr/ds=0?

dr/ds is always zero at the apogee.
 
  • #24
kev said:
dr/ds is always zero at the apogee.

How do you know you have an apogee? You haven't derived the equations of motion, let alone solved them, therefore you don't know the trajectory. The trajectory might be (and is, in certain cases) a hyperbola.
 
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  • #25
starthaus said:
Nope:

[tex](\frac{dr}{dt})^2=\alpha^2-\alpha r^2(\frac{d\phi}{dt})^2-\alpha(\frac{ds}{dt})^2=\alpha^2-\alpha(\frac{L}{r})^2-\frac{\alpha^3}{K^2}[/tex]


You have substituted [itex]L^2[/itex] for [tex]r^4\frac{d\phi^2}{dt^2}[/tex]

but that is a mistake because

[tex]L^2 = r^4\frac{d\phi^2}{ds^2}[/tex]

so your objection is wrong. I can see this is going to be another long thread.
 
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  • #26
starthaus said:
How do you know you have an apogee? You haven't derived the equations of motion, let alone solved them, therefore you don't know the trajectory. The trajectory might be (and is, in certain cases) a hyperbola.

It might be a hyperbola in certain cases. The point where dr/dt=0 might be an apogee or perigee (or more precisely an apoapsis or periapsis if we are not talking about the Earth). That is why I said in #6:

kev said:
Now K is a constant and I "fix" its value at the apogee (or perigree) where dr/ds=0 so that the alternative form of K is defined as:

[tex]K^2 = (1-2M/r ) + (1-2M/r) (\frac{rd\phi}{ds})^2 = (1-2M/R ) + (1-2M/R)(L^2/R^2)[/tex]

[tex]K^2 = (1-2M/R ) (1 + L^2/R^2) [/tex]

To be more rigorous you would have to find the effective potential and determine if the particle is at maxima or minima. For a quick check if r<R and dr/dt is imaginary that is a pointer that (dr/dt=0 and R=r) might be the perigee and the particle is moving outwards (which happens if H and R are large). By entering a value of r>R a real solution for dr/dt is found in this case. This is one way of determining if the solution is a positive square root or a negative square root.
 
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  • #27
starthaus said:
Besides, expressing K as a function of L doesn't solve anything since you don't know L.

It is much simpler to observe that [tex]K=(1-2m/r_0)\frac{dt}{ds}|_{s=0}[/tex]

It is not simpler, because if you have a moving particle you do not know dt/ds unless you know its velocity which is defined by L (its angular momentum/rest mass) and dr/dt. K and L together define the trajectory.
 
  • #28
kev said:
It might be a hyperbola in certain cases. The point where dr/dt=0 might be an apogee or perigee (or more precisely an apoapsis or periapsis if we are not talking about the Earth). That is why I said in #6:

Since you don't know, you can't use dr/ds=0. Just as simple.
Besides, you don't know R.
You don't know the equations of motion=> you don't know the trajectory.
You don't know the trajectory=> you don't know your "R", whatever that may be.
 
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  • #29
kev said:
You have substituted [itex]L^2[/itex] for [tex]r^4\frac{d\phi^2}{dt^2}[/tex]

but that is a mistake because

[tex]L^2 = r^4\frac{d\phi^2}{ds^2}[/tex]

so your objection is wrong. I can see this is going to be another long thread.

Yes, you are right. Come to think , I was the one showing you that

[tex]r^2\frac{d\phi}{ds}=constant[/tex] from the Euler-Lagrange equations.
 
  • #30
starthaus said:
Since you don't know, you can't use ds/dr=0. Just as simple.

Let us say we have problem expressed like this:

"An initially stationary particle is dropped from height R. What is its coordinate velocity at r?"

Right away the question has defined H=0 because it's falling radially and dr/ds=0 at r=R because it was initially stationary at R.
 
  • #31
kev said:
Let us say we have problem expressed like this:

"An initially stationary particle is dropped from height R. What is its coordinate velocity at r?"

Right away the question has defined H=0 because it's falling radially and dr/ds=0 at r=R because it was initially stationary at R.

But, as I explained to you eons ago, this is not the case you are trying to treat. There is the other pesky coordinate [tex]\phi[/tex] that you need to consider.
Your trajectory will not be a straight line but an ellipse, a parabola or a hyperbola. You don't know which until you find out and solve the equations of motion.
 
  • #32
starthaus said:
But, as I explained to you eons ago, this is not the case you are trying to treat. There is the other pesky coordinate [tex]\phi[/tex] that you need to consider.

I am sure you will agree I have considered coordinate [tex]\phi[/tex] in great detail in posts #6 and #10. It is not difficult to observe the path of a particle and measure where its apogee or perigee is and at that point dr/dt=0. I am sure there are cases where for example a new comet is spotted and its perigee is unkown and determining its future trajectory will much more complicated, but that is going way beyond the remit of the OP of this thread.

What do you think the answer to the OP is? Does effective reactive centrifugal force reverse (act inwards) when a particle is free falling below r=3m or not?

I have gone some way towards answering that question by determining the coordinate velocity and coordinate and local acceleration of the particle when the particle has angular momentum. What is your contribution?
 
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  • #33
kev said:
If we call the local instantaneous tangential orbital velocity [itex]v_s[/itex] such that [itex]v_s^2/(1-v_s^2/c^2) = (rd\phi/d\tau)^2[/itex] then (eq6) can be written as:

[tex] a_{*}' = -\frac{M}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}} + \frac{ v_s^2\sqrt{1-2M/r}}{r} \:\: (eq7) [/tex]

I have just noticed that (eq7) is in agreement with the equations given by Steve, if the [tex] a_*' [/itex] is interpreted to be the total acceleration acting on the particle and not just the gravitational acceleration. I should have spotted that earlier but an unfortunate typo in (eq7) (that has now been corrected) prevented me making the obvious connection. In other words the term:

[tex] -\frac{M}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}} [/tex]

is the gravitational acceleration [tex] a_g' [/tex] acting inwards and

[tex] + \frac{ v_s^2\sqrt{1-2M/r}}{r} [/tex]

is the effective reactive centrifugal acceleration [tex] a_c' [/tex] acting outwards so that:

[tex] a_*' = -\frac{M}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}} + \frac{ v_s^2\sqrt{1-2M/r}}{r} = a_g' + a_c' [/tex]

[tex] a_*' [/tex] is the resultant acceleration that is actually measured by a stationary local observer using the proper length and proper time of his local rulers and clocks. This particular form of the equation is valid only to the apogee or perigee of a given orbital path and does not just apply to circular orbits as I said ealier.

If [tex] a_*' [/tex] is set to zero then the above equation is in agreement with Steve's claim that:

stevebd1 said:
[tex]\sqrt{1-2M/r}\,\frac{v_s^2}{r}=\frac{M}{r^2 \sqrt{1-2M/r}}[/tex]

although the form of Steve's equation is only valid for circular orbits and can not be used when 2M<R<3M. The equation for [tex] a_*' [/tex] can still usefully be applied to evaluate what happens between 2M<R<3M. A positive value of [tex] a_*' [/tex] means that the point where dr/dt=0 is a perigee (point of nearest approach). With the constraint that v_s<=1, it is not possible to have a perigee with R<3M because total acceleration [tex] a_*' [/tex] is always negative in this region.

The equation I gave earlier for dr/dt seems to confirm that if two particles start at R=3M and one has angular velocity and the other does not, the one with angular velocity arrives at the event horizon later. Therefore, the effective reactive centrifugal acceleration is still slowing the rate of descent of the particle even below R=3M. What happens below R=2M is another matter.
 
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  • #34
starthaus said:
Since you don't know, you can't use dr/ds=0. Just as simple.
Besides, you don't know R.
You don't know the equations of motion=> you don't know the trajectory.
You don't know the trajectory=> you don't know your "R", whatever that may be.

I define R as a turning point where the free falling particle is at it its nearest approach (perigee) or at its greatest separation (apogee).
If I insert r=R into this equation:

kev said:
... the radial coordinate velocity of a free falling particle given earlier:

[tex]\frac{dr}{dt} = (1-2M/r)\sqrt{1-\frac{(1-2M/r)}{(1-2M/R)}\frac{(1+H^2/r^2)}{(1+H^2/R^2)}} \:\: (eq1)[/tex]

then dr/dt=0 automatically falls out the equation.
How to determine if dr/dt=0 at R=r is an apogee or a perigee is described in the previous post by analysing the sign of the acceleration at that point.
 
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  • #35
kev said:
I have gone some way towards answering that question by determining the coordinate velocity and coordinate and local acceleration of the particle when the particle has angular momentum. What is your contribution?

Pointing out that your method doesn't work. You can't really put in stuff by hand, you need to be able to arrive to the equations of motion and solve them. This way, you will get to a discussion of the different possible trajectories. Putting in dr/ds=0 by hand will not do it.
 

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