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The Question
(Submitted September 12, 2001)
At the center of a black hole the singularity point has zero volume and
infinite density. I know that the singularity is a point in space rather
than an object with specific dimensions, but how is it possible for
something to have zero volume and infinite density?
The Answer
This is indeed difficult to grasp. Actually at the center of a black
hole spacetime has infinite curvature and matter is crushed to infinite
density under the pull of infinite gravity. At a singularity, space and
time cease to exist as we know them. The laws of physics as we know them
break down at a singularity, so it's not really possible to envision
something with infinite density and zero volume. You might check out the
web site for further information on back holes and singularities:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/rjn_bht.html.
Hope this helps,
Georgia & Koji
For "Ask a High Energy Astronomer"
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