An observer steps off a platform that is stationary with respect to the black hole, and that is positioned at r = 200 km. To see his motion, turn off the trail, set r = 200, v = 0, and angle = 0. v = 0 means that he just barely steps off. Click on Start to watch gravity take over and suck the observer into the black hole. The total trip, as measured by the oberver's wristwatch, takes slightly more than one-thousandth of a second.
Check trail for the remainder of this experiment.
Now suppose the observer dives down off the platform (still located at r = 200) with v = 0.1, angle = -30. Enter these numbers and see what happens.
Finally, find out what takes place when the observer jumps up off platform with v = 0.2, angle = 60.
This experiment demonstrates that although an object doesn't have to end up in a black hole, if a trajectory is chosen with sufficient care (or perhaps carelessness!), then an object can fall into the black hole. Also, the last part of this experiment suggests the question: Can an object escape from a black hole if launched with a large enough initial velocity? This is the subject of Experiment 2.
Experiment 3: Investigation of Stable Circular Orbits
Experiment 4: Investigation of Unstable Circular Orbits
Experiment 5: Investigation of Spiral Orbits
Experiment 6: Gravity Bends Light Rays!