Black holes in space is one of the most amazing phenomena of the universe, known to modern science.Their existence has been predicted by Albert Einstein in the first quarter of the XX century.
theory of relativity, space and time relationship
At the end of the XIX century physics was considered practically exhausted itself a science.Scientists thought that all the mysteries of the natural world are solved, and the device of the world is about to be fully explained within the framework of existing notions of science.As it turned out, the universe presented a stunningly unexpected news for physicists.Young at that time science - Thermodynamics - discovered that the propagation of light is not explained by the laws of classical Newtonian mechanics.This problem has occupied the minds of scientists around the world.Solve it was possible young employee of the patent office in Switzerland.His name was Albert Einstein.He created the picture of the world - the theory of relativity - completely turned view of humanity about the structure of the universe.Among all the other consequences of the theory of relativity was the remarkable conclusion inseparable connection of space and time.Without going into details, we can say that the rate of flow of time for a particular person (or any object - the reference frame) is closely related to the rate of movement in space.At the speeds available to us everyday is completely transparent.However, if the body is to accelerate the speed close to the speed of light, miracles begin - literally slow time.This idea has been repeatedly realized in the science fiction of the XX century.
curvature of space and time, black holes in space
Another interesting finding of Einstein is the fact that space and time can literally be bent by gravity.This means that time passes more slowly, not only for fast-moving subject, but also near very massive bodies.And the closer to it, the more time is slowed.
As paradoxical as it may sound, but on the ground floor of a skyscraper time is more measured than the twentieth.But again, because of the relatively small size of the Earth's space standards we will never notice.The difference is millionths of a second.So it is the curvature of space.It simply bends in the direction of a massive body, literally pulling him close his gravity.Already from this fact it emerged that the black holes in space may exist.The possibility of such bodies was assumed before the discovery of the theory of relativity scientist of the XVIII century by John Mitchell.However, first it is proved on the basis of Einstein's equations, another German scientist - Karl Schwarzschild.
first practical confirmation of Einstein's theory of the curvature of space was confirmed in 1919 when the English astronomer Arthur Eddington confirmed that the light of distant stars passing near the Sun, they really bent.This is such a massive body that it is not just arches in its side all flying past his body and light rays, but also attracts them to him.On Earth, the body to send into space, it is necessary to give it a speed of 11.2 kilometers per second.This is called the escape velocity.But the heavier the planet, for example Jupiter, would require more speed and therefore more energy.And imagine that the black holes in space - it's so dense objects that their escape speed above 300 thousand km / s.This means that light can not overcome their attraction.And if a black hole in space does not let the light, that it shall not be able to run anything.Since, according to the theory of relativity the velocity of light is the highest possible speed in nature.
modern view of space.Black holes on maps astrophysicists
Today, scientists have discovered more than a thousand objects in the night sky, are considered to be black holes.The complexity of their exact definition is that these objects can not be observed directly.They can be seen only on the behavior of neighboring celestial bodies.So, at the center of most galaxies are huge masses of black holes, around which revolve the billions of stars.Including our Milky Way.
