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Q&A: Black Holes

Q:
Could you explain why a black hole without an accretion disk can not have a magnetic field? Is it possible that the mass within a black hole could generate a magnetic field, but the field lines have been drawn in beneath the event horizon by the intense gravity?

A:
Astronomers believe that it's the material in an accretion disk around a black hole that generates the magnetic field. As it approaches a black hole, gas will spin incredibly quickly and also will be heated up. I don't think it's possible that mass within a black hole will generate magnetic fields that can be felt outside the black hole.

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