MadSci Network: Physics |
Suppose two objects are travelling towards each other (but not quite on a collision course) at (almost) the speed of light. The relativistic mass increase could be expected to reach the point where either object could be described as a black hole. If the two objects have different masses, their corresponding black holes would have event horizons of different diameters. It is conceivable that the two objects could pass within a distance that lies between these two diameters. Thus, according to the lighter body, it would be expected to get sucked into the other. The heavier body would see the distance as being a safe distance, and would expect to pass the lighter object with nothing more than a deviation due to the gravitational effect of the other body. What gives? Also, consider two such black holes travelling towards each other. At impact, conservation of momentum would suggest that the two bodies would slow to a much slower speed, whereafter the black holes may not exist. How does this figure into the above question?
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