What is a shadow?, Image Credit: Flickr User dvs, via CC
I follow you around in the light, I say goodbye to you in the night? Who am I?
Shadow!
Does everything has a shadow?
Take a look around and see what all things form shadows. You will notice that swings, trees, cars, tables and almost everything else has a shadow. Any object – living or non living that can block light can cast shadows.
Leaf and a banner both have a shadow, Image Credit: Flickr User: Image credit zeevveez, via cc
How are shadows formed?
Sometimes objects can block light which means that no light is able to pass through that object. An object from which no light can pass through is called an opaque object. The easiest example is our body. Stand in the way of a beam of a light from a small torch. Ask someone to stand behind you and spot the beam of light. The person behind you will see no light since your body did not allow it to pass. Whenever light is not able to go through an object, it creates a dark area around the object. This patch where the light can not reach is called a shadow. Opaque objects create clear dark shadows.
The opaque stem of the pumpkin blocks the light to form a sharp shadow, Image Credit: Flickr user Muffet, via cc
Why do shadows keep changing sizes?
The size of the shadow depends on the angle at which the light is falling on the object. Your shadow keeps changing throughout the day. It is longest in the early morning and the late afternoon? At noon, when the sun is overhead there is little or no shadow at all. Why? The position of sun changes throughout the day, thus changing the angle at which the rays fall on the ground. A long time ago people tracked the length of shadows throughout the day to keep track of time. The world’s earliest clock was a sun clock.
Why does our shadow chase us?
Shadows are our constant companions, Image Credit: Flickr User: Georgie Pauwels, via cc
If the source of the light is moving, the direction of the light rays in which they fall on the object also changes. This movement of light from the source makes the shadow move. In the case when the object is moving, the shadow moves as it is formed where all the moving object blocks light. It is that simple!
Did you know that shadows are used to make puppets? Yes, they are, and such an art is called Shadow Puppetry!
wow it is so beautiful perfect for my lil sis
doing this for a project for my school we are talking about shawdows is is so boring but atleast i know something about shawdows – shatia
I know, right? this is perfect for kids!
we are doing this for a project about shadows too shafali
Thanks to your website I can find my answer which I was searching for .
me too. it is a good definition for our children
Hello darkness mild friend
this is a really great website for my children.
i like this website because it helps me with my science homework
Thanks!
I like it.
Perfect info.
cool stuff! thanks Kinooze.
Zeal
xxx
it has the correct information .it helped me for my activity
same, it helped me write my essay that I was supposed to do
this is really great facts
very useful and very nice
it helped me to score marks in my
assessment
Did anyone else besides me and my classmate notice it said “Does everything HAS a shadow”?
Excellent now I can easily understand the definition of a shadow. Thank you very very much
Wow! This website is perfect for my project!
awesome for my kids
So cool
Brillant for my children’s homework!! Thank you
Awesome shadow information, perfect for our daycare children as an activity starter. Thank-you very much! Sanders Creative Kids
Good info but it would be good if there was more
Wonderful explanation!! Easy to relate to a child
wow this helped me with my test thx
This was amazing for my year 7 prep thanks I’m using this website more often
WOW! that will help me for my assessment
its very presentably explained.
Awesome. I have learnt the definition of a shadow, it was good for my Concept Map homework. I would have got a C instead of an A+ if it was not for this website.
thank you for that information it really helped
Cool presentation,easily understood.
Nice one and very awesome. A white board either opaque, translucent or transparent.
It is really a very helpful website for me to teach my students. Thanks alot
thank you very much this website will help me with me science home work thanks for the help
Cool ,easy to understand
this website is helpful. ;D ;3
Thanks this really helps with my school project
I really like this website it will help me with my science test this week !!
And when my lil sis go’s into kindergarten and grade 1,2 and 3…
I can help her with her science
This is perfect for what I am doing in class. Thanks :)
Im a kid and I say that all I though was the shadows were made of blocked light, I guess I was right but this website made it even more understandable.
My sister once asked me if total darkness was ‘just one big shadow.’ I said, “No, – because all shadows need a source of light to be cast…”
Am just remembering the sheer, sweaty struggle of our physics tutor as he did his best to explain that light did not weigh anything! It is quite possible that in the way he was explaining, that he was Wrong! I shall leave the answer to that one for each to find out. Most folks would be surprised about how the question is answered! Regards. Steve. i & i Art.
this is a good way to find out about shadows
thank you, need that information for School work
Great for kids!