Mass only increases as speed increases for a distant observer, not for the object itself.

Regarding the event horizon, the distant observer sees, if it can see, the object coming to a halt at the event horizon. Thus it has no increase in mass due to speed in that case. All the mass ever sucked up by the black hole appaers to be trapped at the event horizon to the distant observer. That is how the black hole can exert gravity on outside objects without breaking the speed of light, as gravotions from already absorbed mass cannot escape the black hole. But for the distant observer, that mass is never absorbed.

That is the magic of General Relativity.

• Theory revolves around the black hole - splat - January 3, 2002 - 04:26 UTC
  • Black holes essentially never die - yanniru - January 3, 2002 - 20:59 UTC
    • What does star death have to do with anything? - splat - January 4, 2002 - 06:18 UTC