Scientists were able to calculate the number of neutrinos released by SN 1987A over a 10-s period from the number ascertained at the detectors. In order to make this calculation, it was necessary to know the distance to the supernova and which one of the following pieces of information?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To calculate the total number of neutrinos released by SN 1987A from the number detected, scientists needed to know the efficiency of the neutrino detectors. This efficiency indicates how many of the neutrinos passing through the detector are actually detected, which is crucial for estimating the total number released by the supernova based on the detected amount.

Scientists Were Able to Calculate the Number of Neutrinos Released