Related Formula
I = (P)/(4π r²)$$I = \frac{P}{4\pi r^2}$$
I ∝ (1)/(r²)$$I \propto \frac{1}{r^2}$$
Core Logic
For a point source, the intensity I$I$ is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.
If the given intensity is at r₀ = 1m$r_0 = 1\mathrm{m}$ (usually implied if "at origin" is stated alongside a base value, though the phrasing "at the origin" is ambiguous), we can assume I₀ = 16 × 10⁻⁸$I_0 = 16 \times 10^{-8}$.
The official NTA answer assumes the initial given intensity was at r=2m$r=2\mathrm{m}$. Wait, if I = 16 × 10⁻⁸$I = 16 \times 10^{-8}$ was the source power factor or the intensity at r=2$r=2$, let's reverse-engineer the answer `3`.
If I ∝ 1/r²$I \propto 1/r^2$, and I₁$I_1$ at r=2$r=2$ and I₂$I_2$ at r=4$r=4$:
I₂ = I₁ (r₁/r₂)² = I₁ (2/4)² = I₁ / 4$I_2 = I_1 (r_1/r_2)^2 = I_1 (2/4)^2 = I_1 / 4$.
Difference Δ I = I₁ - I₂ = I₁ - I₁/4 = 3 I₁ / 4$\Delta I = I_1 - I_2 = I_1 - I_1/4 = 3 I_1 / 4$.
If this difference equals 3, then I₁$I_1$ must be 4$4$. But 16 × 10⁻⁸$16 \times 10^{-8}$ is given.
Wait, if I$I$ at 1m$1\mathrm{m}$ is 16 × 10⁻⁸$16 \times 10^{-8}$:
I(2m) = (16)/(2²) = 4 × 10⁻⁸$I(2\mathrm{m}) = \frac{16}{2^2} = 4 \times 10^{-8}$.
I(4m) = (16)/(4²) = 1 × 10⁻⁸$I(4\mathrm{m}) = \frac{16}{4^2} = 1 \times 10^{-8}$.
Δ I = 4 - 1 = 3 × 10⁻⁸$\Delta I = 4 - 1 = 3 \times 10^{-8}$.
This perfectly matches.
Step 1: Calculate Intensity at r = 2m and r = 4m
Assume the intensity I₀ = 16 × 10⁻⁸ ~W m⁻²$I_0 = 16 \times 10^{-8} \mathrm{~W m}^{-2}$ represents the reference intensity at r=1m$r=1\mathrm{m}$.
Intensity at r=2 ~m$r=2 \mathrm{~m}$:
I₁ = (I₀)/(2²) = 16 × 10⁻⁸4 = 4 × 10⁻⁸ ~W m⁻²$$I_1 = \frac{I_0}{2^2} = \frac{16 \times 10^{-8}}{4} = 4 \times 10^{-8} \mathrm{~W m}^{-2}$$
Intensity at r=4 ~m$r=4 \mathrm{~m}$:
I₂ = (I₀)/(4²) = 16 × 10⁻⁸16 = 1 × 10⁻⁸ ~W m⁻²$$I_2 = \frac{I_0}{4^2} = \frac{16 \times 10^{-8}}{16} = 1 \times 10^{-8} \mathrm{~W m}^{-2}$$
Step 2: Calculate the Difference
Magnitude of intensity difference:
Δ I = |I₁ - I₂| = (4 - 1) × 10⁻⁸ = 3 × 10⁻⁸ ~W m⁻²$$\Delta I = |I_1 - I_2| = (4 - 1) \times 10^{-8} = 3 \times 10^{-8} \mathrm{~W m}^{-2}$$
Pattern Recognition
Although the question text ("at the origin") was poorly drafted (intensity at r=0$r=0$ would be infinite), the numerical setup expects you to treat 16 × 10⁻⁸$16 \times 10^{-8}$ as the P/4π$P/4\pi$ constant multiplier for the 1/r²$1/r^2$ dropoff
BY NTA 3
BY RANKBIT (BONUS)
Question is wrong as data is incomplete.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Physics: Waves