Stellar black holes are formed from the remnants of massive stars that have undergone gravitational collapse. When a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel, it can no longer support itself against the force of gravity, causing the core to collapse and ultimately forming a black hole. These black holes have extremely strong gravitational fields, such that nothing, not even light, can escape from them once it has passed the event horizon.

Formation of Stellar Black Holes

When a massive star reaches the end of its life cycle, it may undergo a supernova explosion, which can leave behind a highly compact object known as a neutron star. If the mass of the collapsing core exceeds a certain threshold (the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit), it will continue to collapse beyond the neutron star stage, resulting in the formation of a stellar black hole.

Characteristics of Stellar Black Holes

Stellar black holes are characterized by their mass and event horizon size. The mass of a stellar black hole can range from a few times the mass of the sun to several tens of solar masses. The event horizon, which represents the point of no return for anything falling into the black hole, is directly related to the mass of the black hole.

Study Guide

What is the origin of stellar black holes?
Describe the process by which a massive star forms a stellar black hole.
What is the role of the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit in the formation of stellar black holes?
Explain the concept of the event horizon and its significance for stellar black holes.
Compare and contrast the mass and event horizon size of different stellar black holes.

Understanding the formation and characteristics of stellar black holes can provide valuable insights into the life cycles of massive stars and the extreme conditions under which black holes are created.