Ask questions via twitter! Message any question to @answers on twitter. We'll publish the question and send you a reply each time there's a new answer.
Next Question

Answered Question

 
 M¢25  Funded By Mahalo ? |  June 25, 2009 08:00 PM

Is a singularity within a black hole, a mathematical improbability?

Are singularities a figment of a mathematicians mind? Do singularities annihilate all rationality?
Interesting Question?  Yes (0)   No (0)   
RSS
 
 

Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

 
June 26, 2009 08:27 AM
A gravitational singularity is not a mathematical improbability, it's a mathematical inevitability: The numbers say that any mass compressed to a sufficient density will collapse into a singularity.

As to whether or not they actually exist, the numbers also say that singularities exist at the centers of black holes, and black holes do exist (at least, there are objects so small and massive that according to the numbers they can't be anything else).

Do singularities annihilate rationality? Yes, by definition: At a singularity, the formulas used to describe and predict conditions in the rest of the universe become useless (dimensions shrink to zero, density and gravity become infinite, etc.). A singularity is literally indescribable in classical terms.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_singularity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwarzschild_metric

Asker's Rating:


Tags: singularity

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip badaspie for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
 
June 26, 2009 09:35 AM
I still have a formatting bug. The inlink in the second paragraph should be plain text in single brackets (embedded parentheses).

Report
 
 

Answer this Question

How tips and payments work

This question has already been resolved. You may add an answer to it but you will not be eligible to win best answer or any associated tips.

Ask a Question


140 characters left
Top of Page
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal

Top Members

This Week All Time
  • cfinke
    cfinke
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    27126 Points
    M$29.75 Earned
  • bunnyphuph...
    bunnyphuph...
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    21128 Points
    M$760.89 Earned
  • thisjustme
    thisjustme
    Green Belt
    1155 Points
    M$76.30 Earned
   See All
 

Most Popular Tags

mahalo(1779)
music(494)
iphone(485)
google(390)
online(363)
food(339)
beer(284)
money(283)
movies(278)
apple(259)
aotd(235)
free(232)
health(228)
video(222)
dog(213)
   See All
 

Categories

Welcome New Members

  • wtales, December 10, 2009 02:09 PM
  • bhavna, December 10, 2009 02:02 PM
  • marge, December 10, 2009 02:01 PM
  • pate, December 10, 2009 01:53 PM
  • shell321, December 10, 2009 01:51 PM

 
 
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.

Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.

Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More

 
 

Please log in to use this function.