Baltimore School for the Arts Phyllis J. Friello, M.S. Baltimore School for the Arts

Modeling Black Hole Formation Teaching STEM through Art Frozen stars, collapsing stars, black holes “Black holes humming B flat Heard only by street cats Astronauts in orbit and singers in the bars” Jimmy Buffett

The Science and the Science Fiction “There is a two way trade between science fiction and science. Science fiction suggests ideas that scientists incorporate into their theories, but sometimes science turns up notions that are stranger than any science fiction.” Stephen Hawking – foreward for The Physics of Star Trek

Concepts Universal Gravitation Law – The force of gravitational attraction is directly dependant on the masses of both objects and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Gravitational Field – Field that exists in the space around every mass or group of masses; measured in newtons per kilograms.

Concepts Schwarzschild Radius The radius of a sphere such that, if all the mass of the object were to be compressed within that sphere, the escape velocity would equal the speed of light.

Calculations Universal Gravitation Fgrav = Gm1m2/d2 Gravitational Field Strength Gfs = G m/r2 Schwarzschild Radius Rs = 2Gm/c2

Black Hole Formation Stellar black holes are produced when a massive star (8-10 sm) reaches the end of its life cycle. Inside a star, gravity pulls matter closer together while nuclear fusion of hydrogen radiates heat and pressure and pushes outward. Once the fuel supply is exhausted, the the star implodes causing the outer shell to explode in a supernova.

If the remnant core is less than 3 sm, gravity compresses the electrons and protons forming neutrons. The pressure of neutrons in contact with each other counteracts the force of gravity. The core, now stable and composed primarily of neutrons forms a neutron star. If the remnant core is greater than 3 sm, not even the neutron pressure can counteract the gravity and the remaining material will continue to contract. The remnant collapses to the point of essentially zero volume, yet has infinite density. This creates a mathematical singularity which resides at the center of black holes.

Modeling Materials balloons embroidery thread – various colors glue monofilament or fishing line pony bead or small bead glitter more glitter

Stars to Black Holes Typical models use foil and balloon, but not illustrate the field. The balloon represents the star, the string the gravitational field. The star collapses (take out balloon), and forms the singularity (bead). Also good for Easter.

Field strength before and after collapse Field strength before collapse = field strength after collapse g = G m/r2 Star of mass m Black hole of mass m If your ship can safely orbit before, it may orbit after. If the sun were to turn into a black hole, the Earth would not get sucked in.

Extensions Exposure to Current Research Fuzzy horizons

Event Horizons Artistic representation of black holes and event horizons, drama, no drama, fire and ice, exposure to current topics, articles on a variety of levels.

Gravity “Matter tells spacetime how to curve, and curved spacetime tells matter how to move” - Albert Einstein. This work is inspired by Einstein's general theory of relativity. The kiln formed glass matrix represents spacetime. The blown glass planet is the mass modifying, or warping spacetime intervals. The motion of objects following this curvature is what we perceive as gravity.

Galactic Thought This narrative piece focuses on the relationship between thought and achievement relating to scientific elements in a dream-like quality.

Beyond the Horizon BSA is a black hole of creativity in which our estranged students spaghettify. Once over the horizon we are never to be the same.

Art integration, current topics, informational text, modeling complex systems pfriello@bsfa.org