The tidal forces near a black hole with a mass similar to a star would tear a person apart before that person could fall through the event horizon. Black hole researchers have pointed out that a fanciful black hole life preserver could help counteract those tidal forces. The life
preserver would need to have a mass similar to that of an asteroid and would need to be shaped like a ?attened hoop placed around the persons waist.
If the person is falling into the black hole feet ?rst, in what direction would the gravitational force from the hoop pull on the person′s head and on the person′s feet in order to counteract the black holes tidal forces?