| Date | May 2013 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 13M.1.HL.TZ2.18 |
| Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 2 |
| Command term | Question number | 18 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Unpolarized light of intensity I0 is incident on a polarizer with a vertical transmission axis. The transmitted light is incident on a sheet of material X. After transmission through X the intensity of the light is \(\frac{{{I_0}}}{2}\).
It is suggested that X could be
I. a polarizer with vertical transmission axis
II. a polarizer with horizontal transmission axis
III. non polarizing glass.
Which of the above suggestions is/are correct?
A. I and III only
B. I only
C. II only
D. II and III only
Markscheme
A
Examiners report
This was another question that elicited a number of critical comments from teachers, although the statistics showed two-thirds of the candidates choosing the response A. The amount of light reflected from a glass surface is negligible (and unquantifiable within the parameters of the question), so clearly A was the best response.
