If nothing can ever leave a black hole, can the mass of a black hole ever decrease?
A) No.
B) Yes, if antiparticles enter a black hole and annihilate with matter already inside the black hole.
C) Yes, if the matter inside the black hole is radioactive (e.g., uranium), allowing their decay products-alpha particles, electrons, and gamma rays-to constantly leave the black hole.
D) Yes, if particle-antiparticle pairs are created outside the event horizon out of gravitational energy from the black hole and one particle enters the event horizon while the other escapes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D because of a process known as Hawking radiation, proposed by Stephen Hawking. This process involves the creation of particle-antiparticle pairs near the event horizon of a black hole. If one of these particles falls into the black hole and the other escapes, the mass of the black hole decreases, effectively allowing it to lose mass over time.

If Nothing Can Ever Leave a Black Hole, Can the Mass