Why Do Black Holes Spin?

Imagine you're on a merry-go-round. If it starts spinning, everything around it also moves, like the wind pushing your hair back. A black hole is kind of like that merry-go-round in space. When a star falls into it, it gives the black hole some spin. The more things fall into it, the faster it spins.

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Examples

  1. A spinning top that keeps spinning faster when more clay is added to its edge.
  2. A water wheel that spins faster as more water flows into it from a stream.
  3. An ice skater who spins faster by pulling their arms in.

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