- #1
Moogle
Since the gravity of a black hole affects light, does a baem of light accelerate when it nears a black hole ? Just wondering.
It doesn't change speed -- but it changes direction.Originally posted by Moogle
Since the gravity of a black hole affects light, does a baem of light accelerate when it nears a black hole ? Just wondering.
nonsense.Originally posted by chroot
It doesn't change speed -- but it changes direction.
Physicists refer to any change in the velocity vector an acceleration, though -- so yes, the light does accelerate. Its velocity vector does not change in magnitude however, which means the light does not change speed.
- Warren
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
A light beam always follow the shortest path through the vacuum. If space is flat that path is a straight line. But near a gravitational source it is a curved line, called a geodesic. Light follows it.
The gravitational potential will not acclerate the ligh, but it will change its frequency. For light, momentum is exhibited as frequency according to the equation momentum equals Planck's constant times frequency. p=h[nu].
Originally posted by marcus
Or E = h ν
and p = E/c = hν /c
dr-dock:
Can you put light on bread and eat it?
The intense gravitational pull of a black hole causes light to accelerate towards it. As light is a form of energy, it contributes to the overall mass and therefore strengthens the gravitational pull of the black hole.
No, once light enters the event horizon of a black hole, it cannot escape. This is because the gravitational pull is so strong that even light, which has no mass, cannot overcome it.
According to Einstein's theory of relativity, strong gravitational fields, such as those near black holes, can slow down time. As light is affected by gravity, its acceleration near a black hole can also result in time dilation.
Yes, the effects of light acceleration near black holes are the same for all types of light, regardless of their wavelength or frequency. This is because all forms of light are affected by gravity in the same way.
Aside from contributing to the overall mass and gravitational pull of a black hole, light acceleration can also result in gravitational lensing - the bending of light around the black hole. This effect can be used to study and observe distant objects in space.