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Disk Jets

Short answer: Gas and even shredded stars spiraling toward a black hole form an accretion disk that heats through friction and glows. Magnetic fields threading the disk can launch relativistic jets, beams of particles accelerated to nearly the speed of light, perpendicular to the disk.

The footage, credited to galaxies, shows an animation of an accretion disk and jets.

VideoWrite-up2 sources
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What should you know about Disk Jets?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Accretion disk.

    DD-495-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Disk)

  2. Friction.

    DD-495-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Heat)

Video transcript: Disk Jets: Matter Swirling Into a Black Hole Heats up Through Friction

For black holes [...] entire stars spiral [...] through friction [...] fed by [...] from a [...] also produce [...] accelerated to [...] the disk, [...] NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 26.1s Reel ·

Video coming soonDisk Jets · Instagram Reel
Disk Jets: Matter Swirling Into a Black Hole Heats up Through Friction Instagram Reel · · 26.1s

The write-up

Matter swirling into a black hole heats up through friction. Some is flung out in jets at near light speed.

  1. Exhibit A

    Disk

    Accretion disk.

  2. Exhibit B

    Heat

    Friction.

  3. Exhibit C

    Fuel

    Gas and stars.

  4. Exhibit D

    Jets

    Near light speed.

  5. Exhibit E

    Direction

    Perpendicular.

Questions people ask about Disk Jets

What heats the disk?

Viscosity.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Disk) · Wikipedia: Accretion disk

Jet speed?

Relativistic.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Heat) · Wikipedia: Accretion disk

Jet direction?

Poles.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Fuel) · Wikipedia: Accretion disk

What launches jets?

Fields.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Jets) · Wikipedia: Astrophysical jet

What feeds disks?

Matter.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Direction) · Wikipedia: Astrophysical jet

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What heats the disk?

    1. Friction
    2. Cold
    3. Sound
    4. Nothing
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Friction Viscosity. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Disk) · Wikipedia: Accretion disk

  2. Jet speed?

    1. Near light speed
    2. Walking pace
    3. Sound speed
    4. Zero
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Near light speed Relativistic. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Heat) · Wikipedia: Accretion disk

  3. Jet direction?

    1. Perpendicular to disk
    2. Along disk
    3. Random
    4. Into the hole
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Perpendicular to disk Poles. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Fuel) · Wikipedia: Accretion disk

  4. What launches jets?

    1. Magnetic fields
    2. Wind
    3. Rockets
    4. Comets
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Magnetic fields Fields. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Jets) · Wikipedia: Astrophysical jet

  5. What feeds disks?

    1. Gas and stars
    2. Planets only
    3. Light
    4. Dust only
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Gas and stars Matter. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Direction) · Wikipedia: Astrophysical jet

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Disk Jets." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-495, last updated Feb 22, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/disk-jets/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/disk-jets/ · Last updated

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Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-495-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/disk-jets/#DD-495-F01