By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept

Science, Space & Technology

Space Science Digital
Contact
Search
  • Home
  • Environment

    Tau Boötis’ pole flip was 15 years ago

    March 12, 2023

    Giant exoplanet has 2 suns and swirling sand

    April 5, 2023

    What are coronal mass ejections? Strong eruptions on the sun

    April 24, 2023

    Catch the rays from the Sunflower Galaxy

    May 10, 2023
  • Space Flight

    Galaxies’ missing matter may be found – but now there’s too much of it

    March 6, 2023

    Weird dust ring orbits the sun alongside Mercury and we don’t know why

    February 8, 2023

    Rocket Lab deploys two Capella radar satellites after launch from Virginia

    March 16, 2023

    NASA’s Perseverance rover recorded the sound of a dust devil on Mars

    December 13, 2022
  • Cosmology

    Why do black holes twinkle?

    February 15, 2023

    Mars Has Bizarre “Swiss Cheese” Terrain. You can Thank Water, Carbon Dioxide and 500,000 years of Climate History for That

    March 10, 2023

    NASA and Axiom Space Do a Partial Reveal of the Spacesuit That Will be Worn on the Moon

    March 15, 2023

    The Discovery of a Hot Neptune that Shouldn’t Exist

    March 23, 2023
  • Latest
  • About Us
Reading: Why are small black holes more dangerous than big ones?
Share
Aa
Space Science DigitalSpace Science Digital
  • Environment
  • Space Flight
  • Cosmology
  • Technology
Search
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Environment
    • Technology
    • Cosmology
    • Space Flight
  • More Foxiz
    • Blog Index
    • Forums
    • Complaint
    • Sitemap
Follow US
© 2023 Space Science Digital. All Rights Reserved.
Space Science Digital > Blog > Cosmology > Why are small black holes more dangerous than big ones?
Cosmology

Why are small black holes more dangerous than big ones?

By Aimee Daly February 14, 2023 3 Min Read
Share

[ad_1]

Why would someone falling into a stellar-mass black hole be spaghettified, but someone crossing the event horizon of a supermassive black hole would not feel much discomfort?

Robert Walty


Stephens City, Virginia

First, what exactly causes spaghettification? This process is the result of tidal forces, or the difference in gravity between two points.

As it turns out, there is a relatively simple equation that describes the tidal acceleration that a body of length d would feel, based on its distance from a given object with mass M: a = 2GMd/R3, where a is the tidal acceleration, G is the gravitational constant, and R is the body’s distance to the center of the object (with mass M).

For a baseline, let’s calculate the tidal acceleration that an approximately 6-foot-tall (1.8 meters) person feels between their head and their feet while on the surface of Earth. Plugging in the numbers, it comes out to about 0.0000055 meter/second2. Now, how would tidal forces affect that same person falling into a stellar-mass black hole of 1 solar mass and an event horizon radius of 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers), versus that same person falling into a supermassive black hole that is 100 million solar masses with an event horizon radius of 183 million miles (295 million km)?

In the former case, the tidal acceleration is around 19.6 billion m/s2. And for the supermassive black hole, it’s only about 0.0000019 m/s2.

So, for a person falling feet first into a stellar-mass black hole, the tidal forces stretch them out into a long, thin line resembling spaghetti. But when falling into a supermassive black hole, the tidal acceleration they feel is even smaller than what we experience on Earth!

Caitlyn Buongiorno


Associate Editor



[ad_2]

TAGGED: big, black, black holes, dangerous, falling into a black hole, holes, small, spaghettification, stellar-mass black hole, supermassive black hole, tidal forces

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Aimee Daly February 14, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

[mc4wp_form]

HOT NEWS

Galaxies’ missing matter may be found – but now there’s too much of it

Space Flight
March 6, 2023

Is that this black gap jet making stars explode?

Again to Article Listing Greater than twice the anticipated quantity of novae have been discovered…

October 27, 2024

NASA Says Spacecraft Crash Test Successfully Changes Asteroid’s Orbit

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A spacecraft that plowed into a small, harmless asteroid millions…

October 11, 2022

World-Saving Spacecraft Passes Test

NASA says its DART spacecraft successfully shifted the path of an asteroid. For us earthlings,…

October 11, 2022

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Is that this black gap jet making stars explode?

Again to Article Listing Greater than twice the anticipated quantity of novae have been discovered popping off alongside the jet…

Cosmology
October 27, 2024

How Supersymmetry Saved String Concept

String concept, like most revolutions, had humble origins. It began all the way in which again within the 1960’s as…

Cosmology
December 23, 2023

Utilizing Good Supplies To Deploy A Darkish Age Explorer

One of the important constraints on the dimensions of objects positioned into orbit is the dimensions of the fairing used…

Cosmology
December 23, 2023

The Environment of an Exoplanet Reveals Secrets and techniques About Its Floor

As astronomers have begun to collect information on the atmospheres of planets, we’re studying about their compositions and evolution. Thick…

Cosmology
December 23, 2023
We use our own and third-party cookies to improve our services, personalise your advertising and remember your preferences.
  • Jobs Board
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Exclusives
  • Learn How
  • Support
  • Solutions
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Editorial Policy
  • Marketing Solutions
  • Industry Intelligence

Follow US: 

Space Science Digital

Welcome to spacescience.digital, A source for the latest news and developments in the exciting field of space science. Our blog covers a wide range of topics, from the latest space missions and discoveries to updates on technology and scientific breakthroughs. We are passionate about sharing the wonders of the universe with our readers and providing them with engaging and informative content. Join us on this fascinating journey as we explore the mysteries of space and the frontiers of human knowledge.

© 2024 Space Science Digital. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?