What is the scale of a supermassive black hole's mass relative to the Sun?

Dive into the AST2002 Astronomy Midterm at UCF. Enhance your understanding through engaging flashcards and insightful multiple-choice questions. Prepare effectively and boost your confidence for this academic challenge!

Supermassive black holes are some of the largest black holes known in the universe, typically found at the centers of galaxies. Their masses can range from millions to billions of times the mass of the Sun. This vast scale distinguishes them from stellar black holes, which generally have masses of up to a few times that of the Sun.

The mass of a supermassive black hole is significant and influences the dynamics of the surrounding galaxy, including the orbits of stars and gas within that region. The presence of such enormous masses helps explain phenomena such as the high speeds of stars at the galaxy's core, which cannot be accounted for by visible matter alone.

Other options reflect smaller mass ratios or suggest a mass less than that of the Sun, which do not appropriately represent the scale of mass observed in supermassive black holes. Thus, the correct answer highlights the immense gravitational influence and mass scale of these extraordinary cosmic entities in comparison to our Sun.

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