What are Supermassive Black Holes?

Supermassive black holes are extremely dense regions in space with a gravitational pull so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from them. They are called "supermassive" because they can have masses millions or even billions of times greater than that of our sun.

Formation

Supermassive black holes are thought to form through the accumulation of mass over time, as smaller black holes merge and accrete matter from their surroundings. They are commonly found at the centers of galaxies, including our own Milky Way galaxy.

Characteristics

Supermassive black holes are characterized by their enormous mass and the intense gravitational forces they exert on nearby objects. They are often surrounded by an accretion disk of hot, glowing gas and dust, which emits powerful radiation as it spirals into the black hole.

Study Guide

What is the defining characteristic of a supermassive black hole?
Where are supermassive black holes commonly found?
How are supermassive black holes thought to form?
What is an accretion disk, and how does it relate to supermassive black holes?
What role does gravity play in the behavior of supermassive black holes?

These questions can help you gauge your understanding of supermassive black holes and prepare for further exploration of this fascinating topic.

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Second Grade. What is science?

Vocabulary/Answer key

What is science?

The resources above cover the following skills:

LIFE SCIENCE

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Obtain information from literature and other media to illustrate that there are many different kinds of living things and that they exist in different places on land and in water (e.g., woodland, tundra, desert, rainforest, ocean, river).

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

Earth’s Systems

Make observations from media to obtain information about Earth’s events that happen over a short period of time (e.g., tornados, volcanic explosions, earthquakes) or over a time period longer than one can observe (e.g., erosion of rocks, melting of glaciers).

Collect and evaluate data to identify water found on Earth and determine whether it is a solid or a liquid (e.g., glaciers as solid forms of water; oceans, lakes, rivers, streams as liquid forms of water).