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    Home » Science Questions » What is a shadow?

    What is a shadow?

    Modified: Mar 28, 2025 · Published: Feb 7, 2022 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Shadows are formed when light hits an object it cannot travel through. When you see your shadow on a sunny day, your body has blocked light from the sun. Light travels in a straight line. It cannot bend around your body, so you see a shadow.

    Shadows change shape during the day as the sun’s position changes in the sky.

    In the morning and evening, when the sun is low, shadows are longer than when the sun is high in the sky!

    Child making a shadow on a fance

    Uses of shadows

    Sundials have an arm which forms a shadow. The shadow of the sundial arm changes position as the Earth turns throughout the day. They can be used to tell the time!

    Image on a metal sundial

    Learn about shadows with one of my easy shadow crafts or investigations! You can make shadow puppets, a sundial of your own, a fun shadow frame, draw around shadows and lots more!

    Last Updated on March 28, 2025 by Emma Vanstone

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