Black holes are fascinating objects that have permeated pop science and pop culture. They are simultaneously very complicated (being solutions to second order nonlinear differential equations) and very simple (the no-hair theorem tells us each black hole is described by only three numbers, and much of their fascinating physics can be understood using fairly simple diagrams with intuitive rules). Physicists don't yet understand the singularity at the heart of a black hole. The quantum nature of black holes (and especially their Hawking radiation) is even more fascinating, and turns out to be intimiately related to how we think about thermodynamics and temperature in quantum mechanics. In this semilab, we will cover what exactly a black hole is, and why their most basic properties are central to core questions at the forefront of fundamental physics.
The only necessary requirements are familiarity with Algebra, and Trigonometry, and some core tenets of Mechanics such as momentum, energy, and angular momentum conservation. Familiarity with any of the following will enhance your experience and appreciation for the material, but are not at all necessary to follow the core points: Linear Algebra, Calculus, Thermodynamics, and Probability..