Question

Refer to the Newsela article, "Doctoral Student Played a Big Part in First Black Hole Photo." How was the image of the black hole created?

a) By capturing visible light
b) By capturing radio waves
c) By capturing X-rays
d) By capturing gravitational waves

Answer 1

The image of the first black hole was created by capturing radio waves with multiple telescopes forming the Event Horizon Telescope, allowing for a visual representation of the black hole's shadow.

Step-by-step explanation:

The image of the first black hole was created by capturing radio waves, not by visible light, X-rays, or gravitational waves. The intense gravitational field of black holes makes it impossible for light to escape, which is why traditional imaging techniques cannot be used. To overcome this, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration used a network of radio telescopes around the world to detect the radio waves emitted by the hot gas swirling around the black hole. This method allowed scientists to create a visual representation of the black hole's shadow against the background of this glowing material.