What is the typical duration of a "long" gamma-ray burst?
A) several days, indicating a size much smaller than the distance from Earth to the nearest star beyond the Sun
B) about a minute, indicating a source smaller than Mercury's orbit
C) up to about 1 hour, indicating a source less than half the size of the solar system
D) several hours, indicating a source somewhat larger than the solar system

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Long gamma-ray bursts typically last from a few seconds to several minutes, but most are around a minute long. This duration suggests that the events causing them are incredibly compact, with sizes indicating a source smaller than Mercury's orbit around the Sun.

What Is the Typical Duration of a "Long" Gamma-Ray Burst