# Particles reaching a singularity [closed]

If the gravity well steepens to infinity at the point of a singularity, then so does the "time well". Understandingly, the inward falling energy/matter is not aware of this change in time relative to the "outside" universe, locked as it is in its local reference. How does the inward falling energy/matter ever "physically" reach the singularity?

It seems like the man counting to 100, going half way each time. He gets closer and closer, but never actually arrives 100% there.

The black holes studied by Hawking et al are mathematical idealisations $$-$$ they refer to a static solution of Einstein's equation which assumes that all matter has already formed into a singularity. Although this is a valid solution of an equation, General relativity does not provide any mechanism according to which such solutions actually exist in our universe. Consequently, one should see Hawking radiation as a mathematical exercise rather than as a physical description of matter. Whether Hawking radiation can actually apply outside of a frozen star seems to me far too complex a problem for a realistic solution.