Formation of Shadow

A shadow is formed when an opaque object blocks the path of light, preventing it from reaching a surface behind the object. This creates a dark area, called the shadow, which has the shape of the object blocking the light. The size and shape of the shadow depend on the position and distance between the light source, the object, and the surface where the shadow is cast. Shadows are longer when the light source is at a low angle (like in the morning or evening) and shorter when the light is directly overhead (like in the afternoon).

Formation of a shadow

Understanding Shadows and Their Changes

• Darken the room and shine a torchlight onto a wall.
• Ask a friend to stand between the torch and the wall.
• Observe the shadow forming on the wall behind them—this is where the light is blocked.

Actions and Observations:

• Move closer to the wall → The shadow becomes smaller.
• Move closer to the torch → The shadow becomes larger.
• Move the torch up, down, left, or right → The shape of the shadow changes.
• Change the distances between the torch, the object, and the wall → The shadow size also changes.

Conclusion:

A shadow is formed when an opaque object blocks light. The size and shape of the shadow depend on the distances between the light source, object, and surface. Closer to the light source = larger shadow, while closer to the surface = smaller shadow.

1. Aim: To observe how shadows form with a point source and an extended light source and understand the difference between umbra and penumbra.

2. Requirements: A candle or torch (light source), cardboard with a pinhole (O), a screen, a big ball and a small ball, and string for hanging the ball.

3. Procedure

I. Point Source Setup:

• Place a light source (candle/torch) behind the cardboard with a pinhole to create a point source of light.
• Hang the big ball between the cardboard and the screen placed 1 meter away. Observe the shadow (AB) of the ball on the screen.
• Result: The shadow is completely dark between points A and B (this is the umbra).

Shadow formed by a point source

II. Extended Source Setup:

Remove the cardboard with the pinhole, making the light an extended source. Observe the shadow of the ball on the screen.

Result: Two parts appear in the shadow.

• Umbra (AD): Dark centre part.
• Penumbra (BC): Faint outer part.

Changing Shadow Size:

• Keep the extended light source and move the screen farther from the ball.
• Result: The umbra and penumbra increase in size.

Shadow formed by an extended source

III. Using a Smaller Ball:

Replace the big ball with a smaller ball. Observe its shadow on the screen.

• Result: Both the umbra and penumbra are visible.

Move the screen farther from the ball and observe.

• Result: The umbra shrinks and eventually disappears as the screen is moved farther away.

Shadow of a small object formed by an extended source

4. Conclusion: This experiment shows the formation of two types of shadows.

• Umbra: The dark part of the shadow where no light reaches.
• Penumbra: The lighter part where some light is blocked but not all.
  With an extended source, both the umbra and penumbra are visible, and their size changes based on the distance between the objects.