Polarisation: past paper questions

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• Question 24Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row is correct for sound waves?

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• Question 29Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Radio waves can be polarised, but sound waves cannot be polarised. Which statement gives the reason for this?

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• Question 21Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row is correct for both progressive transverse waves and progressive longitudinal waves?

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• Question 25May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Plane polarised light of intensity $I$ is incident normally on a set of polarising filters. The transmission axis of the first filter is at ${30}^{\circ }$ to the plane of polarisation of the incident light.

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Two polarising filters are placed next to each other so that their planes are parallel. The first polarising filter has its transmission axis at an angle of ${50}^{\circ }$ to the vertical.

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• Question 24Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Vertically polarised microwaves are emitted from a source. The microwaves are detected by a receiver that is connected to a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO). The waveform displayed on the screen of the CRO has an amplitude of $2.6\text{ cm}$.

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• Question 28May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which group contains only waves that can be polarised?

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• Question 29May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which wave cannot be a longitudinal wave?

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• Question 27May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Vertically polarised light of intensity $I_0$ is incident normally on a polarising filter. The transmission axis of the filter is at an angle $\theta$ to the plane of polarisation of the light. The intensity of the light after passing through the filter is $\frac{I_0}{3}$.

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• Question 24May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Polarisation is associated with certain waves. Which waves cannot be polarised?

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A beam of vertically polarised light is incident normally on a polarising filter, as shown in Fig. 5.1. The transmission axis of the filter is initially vertical.

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• Question 28May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement compares the behaviour of transverse and longitudinal waves?

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• Question 25May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which phenomenon is only associated with transverse waves?

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• Question 5May/June 2025, paper 23Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  State why sound waves cannot be polarised.

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• Question 5May/June 2023, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A progressive wave travels through a medium. The wave causes a particle of the medium to vibrate along a line P. The energy of the wave propagates along a line Q. Compare the directions of lines P and Q if the wave is: a transverse wave

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