Observing a mass forever approaching a BH, and BH growth

In summary, the event horizon of a black hole prevents an observer from ever seeing an object cross it. Instead, the infalling mass "smears" over the imaginary surface of the event horizon. However, this does not prevent a black hole from growing in mass and size, as observed in super-massive black holes at galactic centers. This growth is due to the black hole "consuming" surrounding matter over billions of years. Although an observer would never see the actual crossing of the event horizon, the effect of the infalling mass can still be observed through an increase in the black hole's mass. This is because the event horizon's position is determined by the entire history of spacetime, and the black hole grows as energy
  • #36
stefanbanev said:
If I can not acquire information in principle about some events such events can not be qualified as "observables" yet

You're not the only observer in the universe. An observer who falls into the black hole can see events behind the horizon just fine.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #37
The OP question has been answered. Thread closed.
 

Similar threads

I What are the effects on a stationary observer for Kerr metric?
2
Replies
43
Views
3K
I Falling Into a Black Hole: Time Dilation & Hawking Radiation
Replies
9
Views
2K
I Mass distribution behavior of the singularities during black hole mergers
2
Replies
37
Views
3K
I Observation of matter falling into Black Holes
2
Replies
38
Views
4K
Time dilation at the event horizon of a black hole
Replies
16
Views
3K
I Observing Black Holes in Finite Time
Replies
10
Views
1K
I Does Dark Matter Fall into Black Holes?
Replies
12
Views
2K
I Qs re Hawking Radiation – Part I
Replies
4
Views
2K
Why Aren't Event Horizons Bright?
Replies
10
Views
2K
Gravitational non linearity: the glue of Black Holes
Replies
1
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top