Introduction to black holes and their thermodynamics

Abstract

The black holes are among the strangest and most intriguing objects predicted by the theory of General Relativity. They correspond to regions of spacetime bounded by a boundary called the event horizon. Once crossed, this boundary transforms spacetime coordinates from time-like to space-like and vice versa. In this paper, we will review the main characteristics of black holes, targeting undergraduate physics and exact sciences students and teachers. Using an approach that follows the historical development of these concepts, we will show that these fascinating objects can become relatively simple when creating an analogy between their mechanical parameters and thermodynamic variables. With a brief explanation of the Hawking effect, we will demonstrate the connection between black holes and thermodynamic systems, concluding with the classic result of black hole evaporation.