Which event triggers the start of black hole formation?(1 point)
Responses
Radiation emitted by a massive star increases.
The gravitational forces acting on a massive star decline rapidly.
A massive star depletes its stores of hydrogen and helium.
A supernova blows a massive star apart.
A supernova blows a massive star apart.
The correct response is:
- A supernova blows a massive star apart.
The correct answer is: A supernova blows a massive star apart.
To understand why this is the correct answer, let's explain the process of black hole formation. Black holes are formed from the remnants of massive stars that have reached the end stages of their evolution. When a massive star runs out of nuclear fuel in its core, it can no longer support its own weight against gravity.
At this point, the core of the star collapses inward due to the force of gravity. If the core's mass is above a certain threshold called the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) limit, the collapsing core cannot be stopped by any known forces, leading to the formation of a black hole.
One of the most common ways for a massive star to reach this collapsing stage is through a supernova explosion. Supernovae occur when the core of a massive star undergoes a violent collapse and then explodes outward, spewing out a vast amount of matter and energy into space. This explosion is triggered by several factors, including the depletion of nuclear fuel and the gravitational forces acting on the core.
So, in summary, the event that triggers the start of black hole formation is a supernova explosion, which blows a massive star apart.