Radius of a photon's circular orbit around a mass

In summary, the radius of a photon's circular orbit around a mass is dependent on the mass of the object and the speed of light. It is directly proportional to the mass of the object and can be calculated using the formula r = 3GM/c^2. The radius can also be greater than the physical size of the object and is affected by the speed of light, with a higher speed resulting in a smaller orbit. The radius is not a constant value and can vary depending on the specific circumstances.
  • #1
birulami
155
0
What is the radius of a photon's circular orbit around a mass M? My guess would be the Scharzschild radius. Is that true?
 
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  • #3
For Kerr, the Wikipedia article only mentions the two (co-rotating and counter-rotating) circular equatorial photon orbits. Does Kerr have closed non-equatorial photon orbits? (If so, they would presumably be noncircular.)
 
  • #5
Wow, that's very interesting! Thanks
 

Related to Radius of a photon's circular orbit around a mass

1. What is the radius of a photon's circular orbit around a mass?

The radius of a photon's circular orbit around a mass is dependent on the mass of the object and the speed of light. It can be calculated using the formula r = 3GM/c^2, where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the object, and c is the speed of light.

2. How does the radius of a photon's circular orbit change with the mass of the object?

The radius of a photon's circular orbit is directly proportional to the mass of the object. This means that as the mass of the object increases, the radius of the photon's orbit also increases.

3. Can the radius of a photon's circular orbit be greater than the radius of the object?

Yes, the radius of a photon's circular orbit can be greater than the radius of the object. This is because the photon's orbit is influenced by the mass of the object, not its physical size.

4. How does the speed of light affect the radius of a photon's circular orbit?

The speed of light is directly related to the radius of a photon's circular orbit. As the speed of light increases, the radius of the orbit decreases.

5. Is the radius of a photon's circular orbit a constant value?

No, the radius of a photon's circular orbit is not a constant value. It depends on the mass of the object and the speed of light, which can vary in different situations.

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