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Date November 2020 Marks available 1 Reference code 20N.2.SL.TZ0.6
Level SL Paper 2 Time zone no time zone
Command term Identify Question number 6 Adapted from N/A

Question

Simulation software can be used to produce a 3D visualization of rising sea levels that change as the user alters the percentage of ice that has melted.

Figure 3: 3D visualization of rising sea levels

[Source: Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech.]

Define the term visualization.

[1]
a.i.

Identify how a 2D visualization could be used in this scenario.

[1]
a.ii.

Explain the benefits of using visualization when simulating rising sea levels.

[5]
b.

Once the 3D visualization has been rendered, when the user drags a slider bar to simulate the amount of ice that has melted, the visualization is re-rendered without any delay.

Figure 4: Slider bar to simulate different percentages of sea ice

[Source: Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech.]

[6]
c.

Markscheme

Award [1 max].
A visualisation is graphical software technique that creates an image / diagram / graph to communicate data;

a.i.

Award [1 max].
2D map of a coastline;
standard flat map;
cross-section of the land;

a.ii.

Award [5 max].
Visualizations provides a quick way of seeing where the sea levels are now and where they will be if the glaciers melt;
People can understand a visual image more easily than raw data;
No need to interpret figures so time is saved;
A visual of land being claimed by the water has greater emotional impact that raw data;
Public / politicians are more likely to be influenced by a visualization than raw data;

Accept other reasonable reasons.

b.

Award [6 max].
Wireframe model is created with polygons;
The 3D rendering process automatically converts a 3D wireframe model into 2D images on a computer;
2D images are combined to create a 3D image;
3D renders may, or may not, use photorealistic effects;
It is likely that scanline rendering would be used because it uses less processing / system resources than ray tracing;
it is unlikely that ray tracing would be used because of the time taken for rendering;

c.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.i.
[N/A]
a.ii.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.

Syllabus sections

Option B: Modelling and simulation » B.3 Visualization
Option B: Modelling and simulation

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