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peacefultoker420 OP t1_j4uopga wrote

Reply to comment by mfb- in Is a black hole a virtual object? by peacefultoker420

But we they physical objects? If they are a mathematical expression of space time and the singularity itself is not made of matter, just the warping of source time, surely they can't be classed as a physical item like a chair or a star

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mfb- t1_j4utpg8 wrote

A black hole has a mass and deforms spacetime, a chair has a mass and deforms spacetime. The chair might have a more complex internal structure (we are not sure, because we can't check for black holes), but why would that be relevant to call it a physical object? A black hole is obviously there in space, so it's a physical object.

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Dead_Shaman_ t1_j4vhjbh wrote

I think you mix the two concepts of "the singularity is not physical" (which is true, as it is only a mathematical construct) with "black holes are not physical". We use different mathematical constructs to approximate physics effects. Using the notion of a singularity works if you are beyond the event horizon, but if you are close this would be a different and more complicated affair. Nevertheless, a black hole is real, wether or not we can fully describe it in every regime of space-time.

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