Making shadows

Block the light and you make a shadow.

What is a shadow?

Light travels in straight lines. If something blocks the light, there is a dark patch behind it. That dark patch is a shadow.

Shadows are dark because light cannot pass through your hand.

You need three things

A light source. An object to block the light. A surface for the shadow to fall on.

If you move the light, the shadow moves too.

Light through materials

Opaque things block all light. They make dark shadows. Transparent things let light through. They make very faint shadows. Translucent things let some light through.

Tissue paper, thin cloth and frosted glass are also translucent.

Shadows outside

On a sunny day, trees make cool shadows. Your body makes a shadow too. An umbrella’s shade keeps you cool.

Animals like cows and goats rest in the shade when it is hot.

What I learnt

I know that a shadow forms when an object blocks light.
I can sort materials into opaque, translucent and transparent.