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Date November 2012 Marks available 1 Reference code 12N.1.SL.TZ0.27
Level Standard level Paper Paper 1 Time zone Time zone 0
Command term Question number 27 Adapted from N/A

Question

The intensity of radiation from a star at the surface of one of its planets is I. The distance between the star and the planet is d.

What is the intensity at the surface of another planet which is a distance \(\frac{d}{4}\) from the star?

A. 4I
B. 8I
C. 16I
D. 64I

Markscheme

C

Examiners report

This was a slightly unusual question in that the inverse square law is usually used by starting close to an object and then moving away; here it was used in reverse. Nevertheless, one distance was four times further than the other and so the intensity ratio would be 1:16 with it therefore being 16 times greater for the planet closer to the star.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 4: Waves » 4.3 – Wave characteristics
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