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Robert McNees

1 year ago

Robert McNees
1 year ago

A paper by the Reverend John Michell was read before the Royal Society #OTD in 1783. It included the first prediction of what, given the understanding of gravity at the time, you might call a Black Hole.

royalsocietypublishing.org/doi…

The abstract reads:

On the Means of difcovering the Difance, Magnitud, Sec. of the Fixed Stars, in confequence of the Diminution of the Velocity of their Light, in cafe fuch a Diminution fould be found to take place in any of them, and fuch other Data fould be procured from Obfervations, as would be farther necefary for that Purpofe. By the Rev. John Michell, B. D. F. R. S.
In a Letter to Henry Cavendith, Ef. F. R. S. and A. S.
Read November 27, 1783.

The paragraph reads:

16. Hence, according to article 10, if the femi-diameter of a fphare of the fame denfity with the fun were to exceed that of the fun in the proportion of goo to 1, a body falling from an infinite height towards it, would have acquired at its furface a greater velocity than that of light, and confeguently, fup-poling light to be attracted by the fame force in proportion to its vis inertize, with other bodies, all light emitted from fuch a body would be made to return towards it, by its own proper gravity.

#otd

This entry was edited (1 year ago)

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