Black Hole Basics

A black hole is characterized by its immense gravitational pull, which results in infinite density at its center, known as a singularity, while its volume effectively becomes zero.

John Wheeler coined the term 'black hole' in 1967, although the concept had been explored earlier by other physicists.

The event horizon is the boundary beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape the gravitational pull of a black hole.

As matter approaches the singularity at the center of a black hole, it is compressed to an infinitely small volume, resulting in infinite density.

The ergosphere is the region surrounding a rotating black hole where matter and energy are dragged along with the black hole's rotation.

The photon sphere is the region surrounding a black hole where light orbits the black hole, forming a circular path.

Accretion is the process by which matter and energy fall into a black hole, increasing its mass.

Hawking radiation is the process by which black holes lose mass and energy due to the emission of particles from their event horizon.

The singularity is the hypothetical point at the center of a black hole where all matter is compressed to an infinitely small volume.

Spaghettification is the process by which matter is stretched and torn apart as it approaches a black hole due to the immense gravitational forces.

A naked singularity is a hypothetical black hole with zero mass and infinite density, which is not surrounded by an event horizon.

A stellar black hole is formed by the collapse of a massive star at the end of its life.

A supermassive black hole is found at the center of most galaxies and is much more massive than a stellar black hole.

A primordial black hole is formed in the early universe before the formation of stars and galaxies.

An intermediate-mass black hole has a mass between that of a stellar black hole and a supermassive black hole.