The Logic Problems of Black Holes
As I always preference my questions, I am not a scientist or student. I am an engineer who loves physics.
It is my understanding that, there are 2 competing thoughts behind what a black hole is. Standard Description – Is that a stellar core collapses under its own weight when it begins to fuse iron. It shrinks to a point of infinite density and an event horizon is formed. Time splits from space just below the event horizon. Matter falling into the event horizon will eventually meet the singularity.
The second description is like the first, except that matter never falls below the event horizon and piles up on it. (This is due to time ending at the event horizon). The black hole and event horizon expands because of this shell of material on it.
Both descriptions are illogical. They might make sense from a mathematics point of view, but they have problems from a purely logical point of view.
Standard Description 1. Density - Let’s say we have a BH at 10 solar masses. If I push another solar mass of material into the event horizon, how can something that was infinitely dense, become even more infinitely dense? 2. Size – How can matter collapse to a singularity… (Now I understand that it is a mathematical singularity which means we have pushed physics to its breaking point…) Logically you cannot be infinitely dense, and infinitely small. 43
You can be one of the other, but not both. If you are infinitely dense, any matter falling onto you would have to pile up around the singularity as it cannot be squeezed any further. If you are infinitely small (let’s say a Planck Length in size), then you cannot be infinitely dense, as new material must be squeezed into this Planck Length as well. 3. Energy – I would expect that as the quarks are destroyed in the collapse, they would give off a TREMENDOUS amount of energy. Where does this go? Why does it not push back against gravity blowing the stellar core apart? (I do not think there is anything that keeps the “singularity” from being pure energy is there?) 4. If you have an infinitely dense, infinitely small singularity, how does the event horizon grow?
Second Description 1. If time ceases, just at the event horizon and all matter deposited on the event horizon forms shells around it why is it not reflective? It would no longer be a black body as matter on the top of the shell would be further away than the event horizon and the escape velocity would be less than the speed of light.
To me this is the easiest to get around. Time does indeed stop just “BELOW” the event horizon. Matter does not collapse into a singularity and therefore is not infinitely dense. As matter is drawn into the event horizon, it piles up on the core and enlarges the event horizon. (Think of a glass that as you add water, keeps expanding.) However, I don’t think this is mathematically supported.
I am sure there other paradox’s surrounding black holes. These are the ones that have made me curious. 334