The attraction of light by the gravitational pull of black holes is a fascinating phenomenon that can be explained by the curvature of spacetime caused by the massive object. While light has no mass, it still follows the curvature of spacetime, as described by Einstein's theory of general relativity.
According to general relativity, mass and energy can warp the fabric of spacetime, creating a gravitational field. When light travels through this curved spacetime near a black hole, its path is affected by the gravitational pull. The intense gravity near a black hole causes spacetime to curve significantly, essentially bending the trajectory of light.
The gravitational pull of a black hole is incredibly strong due to its extreme mass concentration. As light approaches the event horizon (the boundary beyond which nothing, including light, can escape), the gravitational force becomes so intense that even light cannot overcome it. Light, which normally travels in straight lines in the absence of gravity, follows a curved path due to the spacetime curvature near the black hole. It essentially becomes trapped in the gravitational well created by the black hole.
This phenomenon is often visualized as light following a "geodesic," which is the shortest path in curved spacetime. The trajectory of light near a black hole can appear to be bent, distorted, or even circular, depending on the black hole's characteristics and the observer's perspective.
In summary, while light itself has no mass, it still interacts with the gravitational field created by a black hole because it follows the curvature of spacetime. This is why light can be attracted and affected by the gravitational pull of black holes.
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