| Date | May 2012 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 12M.1.SL.TZ2.2 |
| Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 2 |
| Command term | Question number | 2 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
An object slides down an inclined plane that makes an angle θ with the horizontal. The weight of the object is W.
Which of the following is the magnitude of the component of the weight parallel to the plane?
A. W sin θ
B. \(\frac{W}{{\sin \theta }}\)
C. W cos θ
D. \(\frac{W}{{\cos \theta }}\)
Markscheme
A
Examiners report
B and C were commonly chosen distractors. A simple teaching strategy for such situations is to invite the candidates to consider what happens if the angle is zero. Clearly the required component also becomes zero, in which case neither B nor C can be correct.
