15 ms·
Regarding #3, angular momentum is conserved, so it neither increases nor decreases.
by ISL 9y ago
Regarding #3, angular momentum is conserved, so it neither increases nor decreases.
- andrewflnr 9y agoActually, can you shed angular momentum via gravitational waves?
- jcims 9y agoSort of? http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotating_black_hole http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotating_black_hole
- prawn 9y agoHow would a non-rotating black hole be possible? Wouldn't it be impossible for any source material to lack spin entirely? Or is it a purely theoretical thing?
- the8472 9y agoSince black holes are rotationally symmetric they cannot shed angular momentum via gravitational waves since the production of those requires some asymmetry[0]. But as a sibling post pointed out they can impart some of their angular momentum on objects within the ergosphere which then may escape and carry away the energy. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_wave#Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_wave#Sources
- andrewflnr 9y agoI was thinking of the two-black-hole system right before merging.
- ahnitz 9y agoBefore merging, yes, they do shed angular momentum before merging. In fact, if you calculated the angular momentum of two maximally spinning black holes, you'd realize that if you could combine them, it would larger than the maximal possible spin of a single black hole with the combined mass. They must and will radiate this away as gravitational waves before merging.
- jessriedel 9y agoHe clearly means that the spin rate increases.