Physics - Why Scientists Think We Might Live Inside a Black Hole Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a black hole?

A

A region in space with a gravitational pull so strong that not even light can escape.

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2
Q

What theory suggests our universe could exist inside a black hole?

A

The Black Hole Big Bang Theory.

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3
Q

What are the three defining properties of black holes?

A

Mass, spin, and electric charge.

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4
Q

Fill in the blank: The center of a black hole, where density and gravity reach infinity, is called the _____.

A

singularity.

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5
Q

What phenomenon describes the process of objects being stretched by a black hole’s gravity?

A

Spaghettification.

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6
Q

Explain the concept of cosmic inflation in the context of the black hole universe theory.

A

Cosmic inflation refers to the rapid expansion of the universe, which the intense gravity of a black hole could trigger.

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7
Q

What might happen to matter when it crosses a black hole’s event horizon?

A

It is pulled toward the singularity, with no possibility of escape.

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8
Q

What does the Black Hole Big Bang Theory propose about new universes?

A

It suggests that matter collapsing into a black hole could lead to the creation of a new universe.

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9
Q

Why is it challenging to prove the black hole universe hypothesis?

A

Due to current technological limitations and the complexities in studying black holes.

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10
Q

Fill in the blank: Stephen Hawking proposed that black holes emit energy known as _____.

A

Hawking radiation.

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11
Q

What is the significance of Hawking radiation?

A

It causes black holes to lose mass over time, eventually leading to their evaporation.

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12
Q

What is the multiverse concept related to black holes?

A

The idea that each black hole could give rise to a new universe, creating an endless cycle of universes.

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13
Q

What happens to information that falls into a black hole, according to recent findings?

A

It theoretically can be reconstructed from the emitted Hawking radiation in the far future.

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14
Q

What evidence supports the idea that black holes play a role in galaxy formation?

A

Supermassive black holes are found at the center of most galaxies, influencing their structure and evolution.

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15
Q

True or False: Only very dense objects like collapsed stars can form black holes.

A

False. Any object can become a black hole if it is compressed enough.

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16
Q

Describe the event horizon of a black hole.

A

It is the boundary beyond which nothing can escape the gravitational pull of the black hole.

17
Q

Explain the concept of spaghettification.

A

It is the stretching effect experienced by objects due to the extreme gravitational differences near a black hole’s center.

18
Q

How does the study of black holes influence our understanding of space and time?

A

It suggests space and time may have building blocks and challenges our conventional understanding of reality.

19
Q

Why is it thought that black holes may ‘evaporate’ over time?

A

Due to Hawking radiation, which causes them to lose energy and mass gradually.

20
Q

What did Stephen Hawking discover about black holes in the 1970s?

A

He discovered that black holes emit radiation, known as Hawking radiation, and will eventually evaporate.

21
Q

Fill in the blank: Black holes at the center of galaxies are typically _____.

A

supermassive black holes.

22
Q

What role do supermassive black holes play in galaxies?

A

They are thought to play a crucial role in the formation and evolution of galaxies.

23
Q

How does the idea of a universe inside a black hole challenge conventional physics?

A

It implies that space, time, and reality may operate differently under extreme gravitational conditions.

24
Q

What does the term ‘singularity’ refer to in the context of black holes?

A

The point at the center of a black hole where density and gravitational forces become infinite.

25
Q

Explain the Black Hole Big Bang Theory briefly.

A

It proposes that a collapsing black hole in a parent universe could create a new universe.

26
Q

Fill in the blank: The point beyond which nothing can escape from a black hole is called the _____.

A

event horizon.

27
Q

What type of black hole could theoretically exist at the atomic scale?

A

Primordial black holes.

28
Q

How does the hypothesis of black holes creating new universes expand our understanding of reality?

A

It suggests a cosmic cycle of birth and rebirth across multiple universes.