A black hole with a mass of 10⁹ MSᵤn brightens rapidly and increases its luminosity by a factor of two.Approximately how long would it take for an observer on Earth to see the black hole reach its maximum brightness?
A) 3 minutes
B) 3 hours
C) 3 days
D) 3 weeks

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The time it takes for a black hole to brighten and reach its maximum brightness depends on the accretion rate and the physics of the accretion disk around the black hole, not on the speed of light or the distance from Earth. The given options suggest a range of timescales that are typical for various astrophysical processes. A timescale of hours is reasonable for changes in the accretion disk of a supermassive black hole, which can lead to rapid increases in luminosity observable from Earth.

A Black Hole with a Mass of 10⁹ MSᵤn Brightens