Black Holes

A black hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. This happens when a massive star collapses under its own gravity at the end of its life cycle. The boundary surrounding the black hole, beyond which nothing can escape, is called the event horizon.

Formation of Black Holes

Black holes can be formed in several ways:

1. Stellar Black Holes: Formed when a massive star collapses at the end of its life cycle.
2. Supermassive Black Holes: Found at the centers of most galaxies, including the Milky Way.
3. Intermediate Black Holes: Formed by the collapse of massive gas clouds or clusters of stars.

Characteristics of Black Holes

Black holes have several distinct characteristics:

• Gravitational pull so strong that nothing can escape, including light.
• Event horizon, the boundary beyond which nothing can escape.
• Singularity, a point of infinite density at the center of a black hole.

Study Guide Questions

1. What is a black hole?
2. How are black holes formed?
3. What is the event horizon?
4. What is a singularity?
5. Where are supermassive black holes typically found?

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