Why Shadows Change Size
Written by Studio AM.
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Stand in the same place on a sunny morning and again near the middle of the day. Your shadow will usually be shorter the second time, even though your height has not changed.
A shadow forms where your body blocks sunlight from reaching the ground. When the sun is low in the sky, the light comes in at a low angle. Your body blocks a long stretch of ground behind you.
As the sun rises higher overhead, the angle becomes steeper and your shadow shortens. It is shortest when the sun reaches its highest point that day. Later, as the sun moves lower, the shadow grows longer again.
The changing direction of the light explains the changing shadow.
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Questions
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Question 1 of 4
What is the main point of the passage?
The answer is B: A shadow changes size because the angle of the sunlight changes, not because your body does.
The passage connects the light's angle with shadow length while the person's height remains the same.
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Question 2 of 4
A flagpole's shadow would be shortest
The answer is D: when the sun reaches its highest point that day
The passage's relationship between sun height and shadow length applies to a flagpole too.
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Question 3 of 4
In this passage, "overhead" means
The answer is A: above you in the sky
The sun rises higher in the sky, giving the local meaning of overhead.
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Question 4 of 4
When does the passage say your shadow is shortest?
The answer is C: When the sun is at its highest point that day.
The third paragraph gives the condition directly: the sun's highest point.
Score: none answered yet.