In all of these cases, the black holes started as binary stars. So they have always been in closed (elliptical) orbits, and there is no way for that to change without introducing a third massive body- something that is unlikely (outside, perhaps, a system with three close components to begin with).LeighGus wrote: ↑Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:27 pmIt seems to me that the comparison is not the same. The two magnets are directly approaching each other and are pulled directly in by the mutual attraction. The two black holes are orbiting each other. The orbits are just unstable enough that they spiral in toward each other and eventually scrape each other and merge. There is insufficient lateral energy for a slingshot to happen.orin stepanek wrote: ↑Tue Sep 08, 2020 12:19 pm GW190521_Virgo_1080.jpg
Oh My!!! Kaboom! 🌪 If 2 black holes collide; would not that be like 2 strong magnets coming together???? Either banging together or sling themselves fast apart? ⁉️ 🤯
I do believe that slingshots can and do happen if the two black holes are not captured by each other into orbits. I wonder what the minimum parameters for a slingshot would be. I suppose it depends on their masses, relative velocities, angles of approach, and so on.
In the case of a pair of unrelated black holes passing each other, it is exceedingly unlikely that their relative speeds would be below their escape velocities. That is, their orbits would be open (hyperbolic), and again, there is no way to change that without involving a third massive body. So virtually any interaction between a pair of unrelated black holes will result in a slingshot.