Consider Again the Civilization Described in the Previous Question

question 64

Multiple Choice

Consider again the civilization described in the previous question.(They live on a planet orbiting 10 AU from a close binary star system that consists of a 15 MSᵤn red giant star and a 10 MSᵤn black hole surrounded by an accretion disk. ) One foolhardy day,a daring individual in their space force (let's call him Major Tom) decides to become the first of his species to cross the event horizon of the black hole.To add to the drama,he decides to go in wearing only a thin space suit,which offers no shielding against radiation,no cushioning against any forces,and so on.Which of the following is most likely to kill him first (or at least to start the process of killing him first) ?

• A)tidal forces due to the black hole
• B)X-rays from the accretion disk
• C)the crush of gravity at the singularity embedded within the black hole
• D)the sucking force from the black hole,which will cause his head to explode

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Definitions:

Controlling Influence

The power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity to benefit from its activities.

Parent

In the context of business, a parent company is one that owns enough voting stock in another corporation to control its board of directors and therefore its operations and policies.

Subsidiary

A company controlled by another company, known as the parent company, through the ownership of more than half of its voting stock.

Voting Stock

Refers to shares that give the holder the right to vote on corporate matters, such as electing the board of directors.