• The same object can have shadows of many shapes. Can you make an object that has a square shadow, a triangular shadow, and a circular shadow, when held different ways?
• In the section Exploring Shadows we asked some questions about shadows. The right answer to any scientific question is "whatever happens in the laboratory" -- so you could and probably should investigate those questions by setting up the experiments indicated.
• There are many things you can learn by studying the lamppost shadow pictures:
  • What would this picture look like if the sun were higher in the sky?  The objects would still be the same height.  But what about their shadows?  Longer, shorter or the same?   Would the yellow lines still be parallel?
  • What was the angle of elevation of the sun at the time this picture was taken?
  • Shadows point in different directions throughout the day depending on where the sun is.  This picture was taken in Kentucky in January at about 11AM.  If Sally (in the red coat next to lamppost)  is facing roughly southwest in this picture, what direction will her shadow move as the day progresses?
  
  

Next section: diffraction gratings.