How Shadows Form · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

How Shadows Form

Science · Waves, Light & Sound · ages 7-8
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. An object can form a shadow in a room with no light at all.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. An opaque toy stands between a torch and a wall. Why does a darker toy-shaped area appear on the wall?

    • The toy blocks some light paths to the wall.
    • The toy sends a dark substance onto the wall.
    • The wall makes extra light behind the toy.

  3. Keep a spreading torch beam and wall fixed. Move an opaque toy nearer the torch without turning it. What happens to its shadow?

    • It becomes larger.
    • It becomes smaller.
    • It stays the same size.

  4. Test three equally sized sheets separately in the same torch-and-wall position. Which blocks the most torch light?

    • Transparent clear plastic
    • Translucent frosted plastic
    • Opaque thick card

  5. A spreading torch beam and wall stay fixed. Leo moves his hand nearer the wall without changing its shape or turning it. What happens to its shadow?

    • It becomes larger.
    • It becomes smaller.
    • It must vanish completely.

  6. A torch shines straight towards a flat wall with an opaque ball between them. What outline will the shadow roughly have?

    • A round outline
    • A square outline
    • A star-shaped outline

  7. Zara keeps a torch, wall and flat card's position fixed. She turns the card from broad-side-on towards edge-on. Why does its shadow become narrower?

    • The card has moved much closer to the wall.
    • The outline facing the torch has changed.
    • The card's painted colours have become darker.

  8. Asha moves a toy nearer a torch and turns it. Its shadow changes. She wants to test only the effect of position. What should her next test do?

    • Move the torch and turn the toy during each test.
    • Keep the torch and wall fixed; change only the toy's position, without turning it.
    • Change both the toy's shape and its position during each test.
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_Oru08pKlxd-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

How Shadows Form W1-mt_Oru08pKlxd-s1

  1. False · A shadow needs light that an object can block. In total darkness there is no light to block.
  2. The toy blocks some light paths to the wall. · The toy blocks light paths from the torch. The area receiving less torch light looks darker.
  3. It becomes larger. · In this fixed setup, moving the same toy nearer the torch makes its shadow larger.
  4. Opaque thick card · Opaque card blocks light passing through it. Transparent and translucent sheets let light through.
  5. It becomes smaller. · Nearer the wall gives a smaller shadow in this setup. The hand still blocks light.
  6. A round outline · The ball has a round outline from the torch's position, so its shadow is roughly round in this setup.
  7. The outline facing the torch has changed. · Turning changes the outline seen from the torch. A narrower outline gives a narrower shadow.
  8. Keep the torch and wall fixed; change only the toy's position, without turning it. · A position test changes only position. Turning the toy too prevents Asha from separating the effects.
Worksheet · LightMySky