Question 1

The curvature of space under general relativity can be caused by _____.&#10;A) mass&#10;B) light&#10;C) heat&#10;D) gamma rays

Accepted Answer

Mass causes the curvature of space in general relativity, as described by Einstein's field equations.

Question 2

Particles that exist in tiny energy fluctuations and are then gone are called _____.&#10;A) black hole particles&#10;B) virtual particles&#10;C) relative particles&#10;D) non-existent particles

Accepted Answer

Virtual particles are temporary fluctuations that appear in a vacuum due to the uncertainty principle, existing for a brief moment before annihilating each other.

Question 3

If the Sun were to become a black hole, the Earth and other planets would&#10;A) be pulled into the black hole.&#10;B) move into orbits closer to the black hole than they were to the Sun.&#10;C) fly off into space.&#10;D) continue orbiting as they do now.

Accepted Answer

The gravitational pull a body exerts depends on its mass and the distance from its center. If the Sun were to become a black hole, its mass would remain the same, and thus the Earth and other planets would continue to orbit the black hole just as they orbit the Sun now. The nature of the object (Sun or black hole) doesn't change the gravitational force it exerts if its mass and the distance to the planets remain constant.

Question 4

The shift of light toward the red end of the spectrum when it is near a black hole is caused by _____.&#10;A) gravitational red shift&#10;B) virtual shift&#10;C) general relativity shift&#10;D) radial shift

Accepted Answer

The gravitational red shift is a phenomenon predicted by the theory of general relativity, where light moving away from a massive object (like a black hole) is shifted towards the red end of the spectrum due to the gravitational pull of the object. This effect is a direct consequence of the warping of spacetime by gravity.

Question 5

General relativity describes how mass alters space and time which is known as the&#10;_________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of General relativity describes how mass alters space...

Question 6

Once you cross the _____ you can never escape.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Once you cross the _____ you can...

Question 7

One of the best candidates for a black hole is Cygnus X-1.

Accepted Answer

Cygnus X-1 is one of the strongest candidates for a black hole because of its high mass and the way it interacts with its companion star, emitting strong X-rays as material is pulled into the black hole's accretion disk.

Question 8

A singularity is the collapse of a black hole to a point.

Accepted Answer

A singularity refers to a point in space where the gravitational forces cause matter to have an infinite density and zero volume, which is theorized to occur at the center of a black hole.

Deck 69: Black Holes