How are shadows formed? I know its stupid. I can't remeber 15years ago at school when we did it can anyone help?
2007-03-03 02:40:53 · 9 answers · asked by x- Emz -x 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
There are these little particles in the atmosphere called "Flogiston" (pronounced "flow-gis-ton")and when they get cold, they stop moving as much, and then form shadows. When you walk in front of something and cause the Sun to stop shining on it, the flogiston particles get cooled down and POOF! There's a shadow!
This is why shadows are different sizes at different times of day. Take around noon time for instance. You'll notice that shadows are much smaller. This is because the sun is higher in the sky, thus warming the earth at the maximum capacity, thus not as many flogiston particles are cooled down when you stand in front of something.
2007-03-03 02:44:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 22⤋
Light travels in straight lines (well in essence, it is more complicated), and so cannot bend around bodies or objects. When light shines at something, the light gets reflected of it, which allows you to see it. This means that there is no way for light from a particular light source to behind an object. Where light doesn't shine, there is an absence of light, which makes that area darker, and that is called a shadow. The reason I said 'a particular light source' is because although where most of the light is coming from, not all the light is coming from there, so the shadow is not completely dark, as some of the light from the second source lights up the shadow partially. This is also how shadows are formed which have different shades. If there are two equal or almost equal light sources coming from different angles, the 'behind' the object varies slightly for each light source. The places which are behind the object from both light sources are is darkest, and the places which are only behind the object from one light source are lighter. You can create great art using shadows and different shades from lots of different lights.
2007-03-03 12:40:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A practical example - a "lunar eclipse "- occurred in the UK tonight, when the sun, the Earth and the Moon were in a straight line, in that order. The Earth prevented the sun's light from reaching the moon, which appeared as a very dark disc around 11 pm. The Earth cast a shadow over the Moon.
2007-03-03 20:22:13 · answer #3 · answered by andrew f 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When solid, or opaque objects block the light rays, it forms a shadow. Shadows the shape of the object bloking the light. When the object moves closer to the light source, the shadow becomes bigger, and further away, smaller.
2007-03-03 10:47:57 · answer #4 · answered by AmyLoosie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
shadows are formed by an object placed in the path of a light source. If the source is behind the shadow will be in front of the object.
2007-03-03 10:48:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Quite simple, shadows are where the light is blocked by something. They are not completely dark as other light is reflected. The only reason we can see anything is because light is reflected off it, if that light is blocked then we have a darker shade, or shadow.
2007-03-03 10:47:47 · answer #6 · answered by mad_caesar 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
a shadow is formed when something comes between the sun and a solid surface.
2007-03-06 15:13:20 · answer #7 · answered by elflaeda 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
shadows is formed when there is a difference in light energy that is bounced from a surface, most easily done by obstructing a surface from a dominant light source.
2007-03-03 11:44:40 · answer #8 · answered by Lie Ryan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Shadows? They are basically formed when light goes 'around' you. You see, light cannot go through you, for you are not glass, or opaque, you are a solid. When the light goes around you, whatever it does not 'touch' stays dark. I hope that helped!
2007-03-03 10:47:13 · answer #9 · answered by Haku Belmont 2 · 4⤊ 3⤋