What Makes a Shadow Have Different Shapes?

Imagine you're outside, and the sun is shining. When you stand up, your shadow looks like a small person on the ground. But if you bend down or hold up a stick, your shadow changes shape! That's because light comes from above, and it goes around objects, making shadows that match what’s blocking the light. If you move or change shapes, so does your shadow. It’s like magic, but it’s really just how light works.

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Examples

  1. A tall person standing under a lamp casts a long shadow, like a giant.
  2. A cat sitting next to you blocks some of the light, creating a smaller and more rounded shadow.
  3. When you wave your arms in front of a sunny window, your shadow flaps around like a living thing.

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Categories: Physics · light· shadows· optics · Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.