Final answer:
The time required to create a new thread in an existing process is usually c. less than the time required to create a new process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The time required to create a new thread in an existing process can vary depending on the operating system and the resources of the system. However, in general, the time required to create a new thread in an existing process is usually less than the time required to create a new process. This is because creating a new process involves allocating and initializing a new process control block, setting up a new virtual address space, and loading the necessary executable code and data into memory, which can be time-consuming.
In contrast, creating a new thread in an existing process typically involves allocating a new thread control block, initializing the thread's stack, and updating the necessary data structures, which is less time-consuming compared to creating a new process. Additionally, since the new thread shares the same virtual address space as the existing process, it does not require loading the executable code and data into memory again.
Therefore, option B) Less than the time required to create a new process is the correct answer.