NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The information in this document was accurate as of the original publication date.

Audience: Educators
Grades: 7-12


Many aspects of black holes can be understood by using simple algebra and pre-algebra skills. Use Black Hole Math as a classroom challenge activity, an assessment tool or an enrichment activity. The problems in this booklet investigate black hole science and mathematics concepts including parts of a simple black hole and calculating gravitational potential energy. Each word problem has background information providing insight into black holes. The one-page assignments are accompanied by one-page answer keys.

Black Hole Math  [4MB PDF file]

Individual sections:
Introductory Pages
A Short Introduction to Black Holes

Problems:
The Event Horizon
Time Dilation Near Earth
Time Dilation Near a Black Hole
Extracting Energy from a Black Hole
The Milky Way Black Hole
Black Holes and Tidal Forces
Falling Into a Black Hole
Black Holes … Hot Stuff!
Black Holes … What's Inside?
Black Hole Power
Black Hole … Fade-out!

Additional Resources

More booklets in this series:
Space Math I
Space Math II
Space Math III
Space Math IV
Space Math V
Space Math VI
Space Math VII
Astrobiology Math
Earth Math
Electromagnetic Math
Image Scale Math
Lunar Math
Magnetic Math
Radiation Math
Remote Sensing Math
Solar Math
Space Weather Math
Transit Math