Interactive simulations for science teaching
400 downloadable interactive simulations
Shadows and contrast
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- Summary
- A light source doesn't create a shadow ! Light sources create light !
When you commonly say that light hits an object and casts a shadow, you have to understand that light doesn't reach the area behind the opaque object - the area we call the shadow.
In fact, the brightness behind the object remains the same if you switch off the street lamp in front of it. Seeing a shadow is just a question of contrast.
If you want to build a world without any shadows, then you have two solutions:
- Switch off all light sources.
- Switch on many light sources everywhere !
- Learning objectives
- To understand that a shadow appears by contrast.
- To define Contrast and brightness.
- To understand that a shadow appears by contrast.
- How to use the animation
- Click on the street lamps to turn them on or off.
Move the luminosity indicator (arrow) to observe contrasts.
- Student sheet
- You have to subscribe to view the student sheet
- Keywords
- brightness, luminosity, light, shadow, contrast, obscurity
- Share your ideas with us!
- Share your ideas with us!