Black holes influence the path of light through their gravitational effects, which curve spacetime. Although photons are massless, they are still affected by gravity, as they follow the shortest paths in this curved spacetime. This means that light can be bent or redirected by the gravity of a black hole. Gravity does not pull objects in a traditional sense; rather, it creates a curvature that both massless and massive particles navigate. Understanding this relationship is crucial for comprehending the behavior of light near black holes.
#1
vorcil
395
0
How does the gravity affect of a black hole pull in light?
In relativity, gravity curves spacetime, and particles (massless and non-massless) follow the shortest paths in that curved spacetime. Therefore, gravity effects photons.
#3
DaveC426913
Gold Member
23,917
7,967
Yes, as nicksauce points out, gravity does not pull things; gravity is simply a curve in spacetime. Photons follow this curve, just like massive particles do.
Is a homemade radio telescope realistic?
There seems to be a confluence of multiple technologies that makes the situation better than when I was a wee lad: software-defined radio (SDR), the easy availability of satellite dishes, surveillance drives, and fast CPUs.
Let's take a step back - it is trivial to see the sun in radio. An old analog TV, a set of "rabbit ears" antenna, and you're good to go. Point the antenna at the sun (i.e. the ears are perpendicular to it) and there is...
Partial solar eclipse from Twizel, South Isl., New Zealand ...
almost missed it due to cloud, didnt see max at 0710 NZST as it went back into cloud.
20250922, 0701NZST
Canon 6D II 70-200mm @200mm,
F4, 100th sec, 1600ISO
Makeshift solar filter made out of solar eclipse sunglasses
3I/ATLAS, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and formerly designated as A11pl3Z, is an iinterstellar comet. It was discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) station at Río Hurtado, Chile on 1 July 2025.
Note: it was mentioned (as A11pl3Z) by DaveE in a new member's introductory thread.
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/brian-cox-lead-me-here.1081670/post-7274146
https://earthsky.org/space/new-interstellar-object-candidate-heading-toward-the-sun-a11pl3z/
One...