Question

According to the theory that active galactic nuclei are powered by supermassive black holes, the energy

released as light comes from ________.

A) gravitational potential energy released by matter that is falling toward the black hole

B) jets emerging from the accretion disk

C) matter‐antimatter annihilation occurring just outside the event horizon of the black hole

D) nuclear fusion in the accretion disk surrounding the black hole

Answer 1

The energy released as light from active galactic nuclei is due to gravitational potential energy from matter falling towards a supermassive black hole and forming a hot accretion disk.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the theory that active galactic nuclei are powered by supermassive black holes, the energy released as light comes from gravitational potential energy released by matter that is falling toward the black hole. As matter spirals into the black hole, forming an accretion disk, it accelerates and becomes compressed, generating tremendous heat and radiating enormous amounts of energy in the process. This explains the bright and energetic emissions observed from objects like quasars and other active galactic nuclei, as well as the observed jets that are perpendicular to the accretion disk.