Final answer:
a) the total waiting time for a process to finish execution.Turnaround time is the total time elapsed from the submission of a process to its completion in computing, encompassing all stages of the process lifecycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the concept of turnaround time in the context of process scheduling in operating systems. Turnaround time is not the total waiting time for a process to finish execution, nor is it solely the time spent in the ready or running queue.
Rather, turnaround time is correctly defined as the total time that elapses from the submission of a process to its completion. This includes all states a process goes through, such as waiting, executing in CPU, and any input/output operations it might perform.
Turnaround time in the context of computing refers to the total time it takes for a process to finish execution. It includes the time spent waiting in the ready queue and the time spent running. It is not related to the completion and submission of a process.
For example, let's say we have a process that needs to be executed by a computer. The turnaround time would be the time it takes from when the process is first ready to run, to when it finishes execution. During this time, the process may wait in the ready queue if there are other processes being executed.
Thus, the correct option is (a) the total waiting time for a process to finish execution. This definition is relevant to the field of Computers and Technology and is suitable for a High School level understanding of the concept.