While Traveling the Galaxy in a Spacecraft, You and a Colleague

question 12

Multiple Choice

While traveling the galaxy in a spacecraft, you and a colleague set out to investigate the 10⁶M _$\odot$ black hole at the center of our galaxy. She hops aboard an escape pod and drops into a circular orbit around the black hole, maintaining a distance of 1 AU, while you remain much farther away in the spacecraft. After doing some experiments to measure the strength of gravity, your colleague signals her results back to you using a green laser. What would you see? Hint: you will need to calculate the location of the event horizon.

• A) Her signals are shifted only slightly toward the red because she is orbiting well outside the event horizon of the black hole.
• B) You would see her signals shifted to a much redder wavelength because she is close to the event horizon.
• C) You would see nothing, because your colleague has crossed the event horizon around the black hole.
• D) You would see nothing, because no light can escape the gravitational pull of a black hole no matter how far she is from it.
• E) You would see her signals shifted to a much bluer wavelength because black holes can make highly energetic light.

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Definitions:

Uncertainty Avoidance

A societal characteristic identifying how much ambiguity and unpredictability is accepted by a culture.

Job Mobility

The ability or ease with which an individual can move to different job roles or employment opportunities.

Personal Achievement

Refers to the accomplishment of personal goals and objectives, often leading to a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.

Competition

The rivalry between businesses or individuals for resources, market share, or superiority in a particular field.