一見すると矛盾しているようで、謎めき、人々の興味をかきたてる天体ブラックホールの現象を取り上げます。実際のところ、ブラックホールとは何なのか、どのように特徴づけられるのかを概説しながら、科学的事実に焦点をあて、宇宙においてブラックホールが果たす興味深い役割を明らかにします。
Black holes are a constant source of fascination to many due to their mysterious nature. In this Very Short Introduction, Katherine Blundell addresses a variety of questions, including what a black hole actually is, how they are characterized and discovered, and what would happen if you came too close to one.
She explains how black holes form and grow - by stealing material that belongs to stars, as well as how many there may be in the Universe. She also explores the large black holes found in the centres of galaxies, and how black holes give rise to quasars and other spectacular phenomena in the cosmos.
1: What is a black hole?
2: Characterising black holes
3: Black holes discovered
4: Falling into a black hole...
5: How are black holes formed?
6: Growing bigger and smaller
7: Black holes don't just suck
References and further reading
"whereas black holes are notorious for not letting go of their contents, Blundell's book makes it as easy to extract information without ever making the subject simplistic." - Andy Sawyers, Astronomy Now
"Black holes have to be amongst the most fascinating phenomena of astronomy/cosmology and as such make a perfect topic for a new addition to OUP's vast collection of pocket guides, the 'very short introduction' books. I read my copy on a couple of 45 minute train journeys - it's long enough to give a good grounding in the basics of black holes, without being heavy or over-technical." - Brain Clegg, Popular Science
ISBN : 9780199602667
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