Studying the Singularity: the Singularity at the Center of a Black

question 72

Essay

Studying the Singularity: The singularity at the center of a black hole is predicted to be a region of zero volume and infinite density that contains all of the black hole's mass. It is a point at which all currently known physical laws break down. Yet in a black hole, this "terrible point" is hidden from view behind an event horizon that prevents any knowledge about the singularity reaching the outside universe. Astronomers continue to spend considerable effort trying to understand the nature of these singularities, objects for which observational input, it would seem, will be forever lacking? Are these astronomers practicing science? Argue both yes and no. Which do you find convincing?

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Definitions:

Correlation Coefficient

A statistical measure that quantifies the degree to which two variables are related or move together.

Grammaticality

concerns the conformity to the rules of grammar of a particular language.

Age

The length of time that a person or entity has existed from its birth or creation to a given point.

Whorfian Hypothesis

The theory that the structure of a language determines or greatly influences the modes of thought and behavioral characteristic of the culture in which it is spoken.