Changing Shadows

Shadows

Shadows

Shadows are formed when light shines on an opaque object which blocks the light rays.  The size and shape of the shadow can change. During the morning, shadows are long and pointed towards the west away from the rising Sun. Around noon when the Sun is most directly overhead, the shadows are very short. In the afternoon, the shadows grow longer once again and are pointed towards the east away from the setting Sun. Earth’s rotation causes our view of the Sun to change throughout the day.

Multiple Choice

How are shadows formed?

• Darkness....

• Magic

• are formed when light shines on an opaque object which blocks the light rays.

• are formed when a flashlight shines on any object which blacks light rays.

Multiple Choice

Can the size and shape of shadows change?

• No, they aren't living things.

• Yes

• Maybe, I think...

• Never, they can't change...

Shadows

• The size and shape of the shadow can change.

• They can change based on the position of the Sun at different times of the day.

Multiple Choice

What causes our view of the Sun to change?

• Earth's rotation

• Earth's revolution

• A tree that is in the way

• My neighbor's house

Multiple Choice

At noon, shadows....

• shadows are long

• shadows disappear

• shadows turn blue

• shadows are short

Multiple Choice

In the morning, shadows

• are long and pointed towards the west away from the rising Sun.

• are very short.

• grow longer once again and are pointed towards the east away from the setting Sun.

Shadows

A shadow is the dark shape made when something blocks light from a light source like the sun, a flashlight, or campfire

Shadow Shapes

Shadows can be different sizes and shapes

Multiple Choice

What do you think affects shadow lengths the most?

• Tilt of Earth

• Sun's position in the sky

• Earth's revolution

What causes changes?

Shadows change length throughout the day because the angle at which the sun shines on objects changes with the Earth's rotation

Multiple Choice

What causes changing shadows?

• Sun's orbit

• the moon

• Sun's position in the sky

A pattern

There is a pattern in lengths

Multiple Choice

What pattern do you see?

• Long to short

• Long to short to long

• long always

• short always

Multiple Choice

When are shadows shortest?

• Early morning

• Near sunset

• Middle of the day

Where do the shadows appear?

Shadows appear in front of objects and the direction of the shadows depends on where the sun is in the sky.

Multiple Choice

When the sun gets lower in the sky, shadows get______.

• longer

• gone

• shorter

• darker

Multiple Choice

Which shows the best example of a shadow at about noon?