Matter in an Accretion Disk Is in Orbit Around a Black

question 105

Multiple Choice

Matter in an accretion disk is in orbit around a black hole, but friction within the disk causes the matter to gradually spiral into the black hole. What will change in terms of the observable properties of the black hole as this process continues?

• A) Only the mass will increase.
• B) The mass, the angular momentum, and the rate of evaporation of the black hole will increase.
• C) Nothing will change.
• D) Both the mass and the angular momentum of the black hole will increase.

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Definitions:

Availability Heuristic

A mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to a person’s mind when evaluating a specific topic, concept, method, or decision.

Overconfidence Effect

The cognitive bias where an individual's subjective confidence in their judgments is greater than their objective accuracy.

Availability Heuristic

A cognitive shortcut based on the first examples that surface in one's thoughts when considering a particular topic, idea, strategy, or choice.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.