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Astrophysics & Cosmology FAQ

The Schwarzschild radius of a black hole is:

2GM/c². rs = 2GM/c² — the radius at which escape velocity equals c; material within cannot escape.

Short Answer

2GM/c² is the best answer.

Astrophysics questions often combine observation with first-principles physics. The winning move is to connect the measurement being made, such as luminosity, spectrum, redshift, or orbit, to the physical model behind it.

rs = 2GM/c² — the radius at which escape velocity equals c; material within cannot escape.

Why This Answer Is Correct

This is a Medium-level question in Astrophysics & Cosmology. The prompt is really testing whether you can connect the concept to its defining physical relationship instead of picking a nearby-but-wrong term.

Good astrophysics reasoning always asks what the telescope actually measured and what physical quantity that measurement traces.

Choices At A Glance

  • A. GM/c
  • B. 2GM/c²
  • C. GM/c²
  • D. 4GM/c²

When similar options appear on an exam, eliminate the ones that break the core law, use the wrong units, or confuse a definition with a consequence.

Topic Snapshot

Topic: Astrophysics & Cosmology

Difficulty: Medium

Best next move: Re-state the governing law in your own words, then solve one more example from the same topic before moving on.