Unit 06“Circular Motion,

Gravitation and Black Holes”

Gravity in our Solar System

What if the Sun were replaced with a Black Hole with the same mass?

Would we be pulled into it!?

Earth & Sun DataFGravity = ?

mEarth = 5.97x1024kg

mSun = 1.99x1030kg

r= 1.5x1011m

Earth & Black Hole DataFGravity = ?

mEarth = 5.97x1024kg

mBlackhole = 1.99x1030kg

r= 1.5x1011m

• No, we would not be pulled in! • The gravitational force would be the same because the mass

and distances are the same.• We would orbit around the black hole – just like we orbit

around the sun!!! • We are beyond the event horizon, so we would not get

pulled in. • We would have to be closer, or the black hole would have to

have a larger mass!

What if the Sun were replaced with a Black Hole with the same mass? Would we be pulled into it!?

Determine the gravitational pull between the sun and the planet of your choice using the table of information below.Add three more zeros to the distance to convert it from kilometers to

meters!