A black hole

In the picture

1. 1The black sphere: the tightly packed matter whose gravity pulls everything toward it
2. 2The light line bending down: light caught and pulled in, so it cannot travel away
3. 3The glowing orange ring: hot dust and gas spinning around the dark sphere

Examples

• A whirlpool in a river that pulls floating leaves down under the water
• A heavy ball on a stretched rubber sheet, dipping it so marbles roll toward it

Quiz: A black hole (Age 10)

1. 1

   Why can a black hole trap light?

   • Because its gravity pulls light in and will not let it go.
   • Because light gets stuck in the hot dust and gas ring.
   • Because light has no energy near a black hole.
2. 2

   What is a black hole?

   • A place where a huge amount of matter is packed into a very small space.
   • A bright star that has just been born.
   • A ring of hot gas with nothing inside.
3. 3

   How do some black holes form?

   • When light bends around a dark sphere.
   • When hot dust and gas spin around a star.
   • When very big stars run out of fuel and collapse.

The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.