Contact Info
Department of Applied Mathematics
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32700
Fax: 519-746-4319
PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader
Since gravity affects the propagation of light, one can imagine a very dense and compact star whose gravitational force is so strong that light cannot escape from its surface. Such an object is called a black hole.
Do such objects exist in nature? If light cannot escape from it, the object will be invisible. How can we tell it is there?
These and related questions will be discussed in our fourth year course in General Relativity. You can also visit hubblesite.org. The Hubble Space Telescope has been responsible for making observations that help to confirm the existence of black holes.
Click on the images for an enlarged view.
Artist's impression of a binary system consisting of a black hole and a "normal" star.
Formation of extragalactic jets from a black hole's accretion disk.
Contact Info
Department of Applied Mathematics
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32700
Fax: 519-746-4319
PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.