How do black holes affect the velocity of stars orbiting nearby?

The correct answer highlights the influence of black holes on the gravitational fields of nearby stars. Black holes possess extremely strong gravitational forces due to their dense mass. As stars orbit around a black hole, they experience significant gravitational attraction, which can lead to an increase in their orbital velocities. This is especially true if the stars are close to the black hole, where the effects of gravitational pull are most pronounced. In this scenario, as stars approach the black hole, they can accelerate to very high speeds, illustrating the relationship between gravity and orbital motion.

Understanding the behavior of stars in such environments is essential in astrophysics, as it provides insights into the nature of black holes and the dynamic processes occurring in galaxies. The other choices do not accurately reflect the physical principles at work in these scenarios.