Understanding Singularity: Zero Mass, Infinite Density

[YoungDreamer]

Can somebody please explain to me the idea of zero mass and infinite density, my mind just is not comprehending it, it seems almost illogical to me. Please help my brain make sense of this. Non-mathemetical please as I am not part of the scientific community.

If the answer is just a simple "the extreme environment of a singularity breaks down all logic and laws" then I guess I'll just have to remember what I always say when the universe stumps me.

To begin to understand we must first understand that we will never understand.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

I believe this question is currently being addressed in another cosmology thread

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=511693

 

[PAllen]

Can somebody please explain to me the idea of zero mass and infinite density, my mind just is not comprehending it, it seems almost illogical to me. Please help my brain make sense of this. Non-mathemetical please as I am not part of the scientific community.

If the answer is just a simple "the extreme environment of a singularity breaks down all logic and laws" then I guess I'll just have to remember what I always say when the universe stumps me.

To begin to understand we must first understand that we will never understand.

I don't know of any physicists who think the singularity is real. Instead, the fact that it is a mathematical consequence of general relativity is interpreted to mean that general relativity must be replaced by some successor theory in this regime (collapsed state inside event horizon). As of now, there is no known usable theory covering this situation. Research on this is ongoing for at least 60 years; it is a hard problem.

 

[YoungDreamer]

I'll read the other thread as well thank you.

PAllen I thank you as well for pointing out that it is not some perceptual problem in my brain but just an incredibly difficult concept that is still very much unknown even after all the incredible discoveries some of the worlds most intelligent people have made regarding question.

 

[sardar]

I completely understand your confusion and the difficulty in comprehending the concept of zero mass and infinite density. It does go against our everyday understanding of the world around us. However, I assure you that it is not illogical, but rather a phenomenon that occurs in some of the most extreme environments in the universe.

First, let's define what we mean by mass and density. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter an object contains, while density is a measure of how tightly packed that matter is. In simpler terms, mass is the amount of "stuff" in an object, and density is how closely that "stuff" is packed together.

Now, when we talk about a singularity, we are referring to a point in space where the laws of physics, as we know them, break down. This point is often associated with black holes, which are regions in space with such strong gravitational pull that even light cannot escape. The extreme gravitational pull of a black hole causes matter to collapse in on itself, resulting in a singularity at the center.

In this singularity, the mass of the object becomes infinitely small, or zero, while its density becomes infinitely large, or infinite. This is because the gravitational pull is so strong that it crushes the matter to a point where it no longer has any measurable mass, but all of its "stuff" is still packed into a single point in space, resulting in infinite density.

While this may seem illogical, it is actually a consequence of the laws of physics in extreme environments. Our current understanding of the universe is limited, and we are still trying to unravel the mysteries of singularities and black holes. So, while we may not fully understand it yet, we can still use mathematics and scientific theories to explain and predict the behavior of these phenomena.

In conclusion, the concept of zero mass and infinite density may seem perplexing, but it is a result of the extreme conditions found in a singularity. As scientists, we continue to study and learn more about these phenomena, but it is important to remember that the universe is full of wonders that may never fully make sense to us. So, instead of getting frustrated, we can embrace the mystery and continue to explore and discover the amazing complexities of our universe.