Physics: Space Physics: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Science and Technology)

Explanation

A black hole is a region in space where gravity is so intense that not even light or any form of radiation can escape from it. This extreme gravitational pull is a result of its very high density, as the mass of the black hole is compressed into a very small volume, creating a gravitational field strong enough to trap light and radiation. Event Horizon: The boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape due to the extreme gravitational pull. Singularity: The point at the center of a black hole where gravity is infinitely strong, and matter is thought to be crushed to an infinitely small point with infinite density. Schwarzschild Radius: The radius of the event horizon, which depends on the mass of the black hole. It defines the size of the black hole’s event horizon. Accretion Disk: A rotating disk of matter, such as gas and dust, that orbits a black hole. The matter in the disk heats up as it spirals toward the event horizon. Hawking Radiation: A theoretical prediction by physicist Stephen Hawking that black holes can emit radiation due to quantum effects near the event horizon, eventually leading to their slow evaporation.