Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2020

Last exams 2024

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Transverse Waves: EM Spectrum & Polarisation (CIE A Level Physics)

Exam Questions

54 mins33 questions
1a
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1 mark

A beam of vertically polarised monochromatic light is incident on a polarising filter, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

q5-paper-2-specimen-2022-cie-ial-physics

Fig. 5.1

The transmission axis of the filter is initially vertical and the transmitted light beam has the same intensity as the incident light beam.

The filter may be rotated about the direction of the light beam to change the angle of the transmission axis to the vertical.

State one angle of the transmission axis to the vertical that results in no transmitted light beam.



angle = ................................... ° 

1b
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4 marks

The filter is now positioned with its transmission axis at angle θ to the vertical, as shown in Fig. 5.2.

q5b-paper-2-specimen-2022-cie-ial-physics

Fig. 5.2

The ratio  fraction numerator intensity space of space transmitted space light over denominator space intensity space of space incident space light end fraction  is equal to 0.75.

i)
Calculate angle θ.



θ = ...................................... ° [2]

ii)
Calculate the ratio 

fraction numerator amplitude space of space transmitted space light space space over denominator amplitude space of space incident space light end fraction.



ratio = ..................................... [2]

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2a
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3 marks

Unpolarised light is passed through a pair of polarising sunglasses as shown in Fig. 1.1.

7-2-2a-m-polarising-sunglasses

The light becomes plane polarised.

Explain the difference between unpolarised and plane polarised light.

2b
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3 marks

In an experiment to investigate polarising filters, two square filters are used.

Initially, they are placed between the source of unpolarised light and a hand-held digital light meter, as shown in Fig. 1.2. The planes of polarisation of the filters are indicated by double-headed arrows.

7-2-2b-m--polarising-filter

The light meter measures the intensity of radiation as 1.00 W m−2.

One of the polarising filters is then rotated, as shown.

q16b-1-wph12-02-june-2021-edexcel-int-as-a-level-phy

Sketch a graph using the axes as shown in Fig. 1.3. to show how the intensity of light measured by the light meter varies as the filter is rotated from 0° to 90°.

7-2-2b-m--meter-intensity-rotation-polarisation-graph

 

2c
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3 marks

Polarisation can be used to identify when some materials are under stress. Placing the material under stress causes the plane of polarisation of the light passing through the material to be rotated. The greater the stress, the greater the rotation of the plane of polarisation of the light.

A piece of transparent material under stress is positioned between two polarising filters. There is an angle of 90o between the planes of polarisation of the two polarising filters.

q16c-wph12-02-june-2021-edexcel-int-as-a-level-phy

Explain how this photograph can be used to identify areas of the material with different amounts of stress.

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3a
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2 marks

Fig. 1.1. shows two ways in which a wave can be made to travel along a slinky spring.

7-2-3a-m-oscillating-slinkies-q

Use arrows to show how points Q and R will move next as the two waves move to the right.

3b
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3 marks

Use the diagram in Fig. 1.1.  

i)
State which wave in Fig. 1.1 can be used to model an electromagnetic wave.
[1]
ii)
Hence explain why it is important to correctly align a radio antenna in order to receive the strongest signal.
[2]

3c
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2 marks

Light from a filament lamp is viewed through two polarising filters A and B as shown in Fig. 1.2.

7-2-3c-m-polarising-filters
    

The direction of plane polarisation is indicated on each filter using a double-headed arrow.

Explain why the observer cannot see light from the filament lamp.

3d
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3 marks

Polaroid sunglasses are sold as sporting equipment to people who fish, sail and kayak.

7-2-3d-m-polarising-glasses-in-use

Explain how polaroid sunglasses can be used to more clearly see objects such as fish, rocks and other obstacles which are under the surface of water, by a person who is above the water.

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