The long and short of it.

Why are people's shadows sometimes long and sometimes short?

If you use a torch and need to fix it high up - be careful about climbing up.

PLAN

Place a person or an object (a stick, perhaps) somewhere near a light-source.

Measure the length of the person's (or object's) shadow.

Move the person (or object) nearer the light - or further away - and measure the shadow again.

How will you measure the length of the shadow?

How will you record where the person (or object) was standing?

I WILL NEED

A light source.

A person or an object to make a shadow.

Something to measure the shadow.

Paper and pencil.

I MAY NEED

A torch.

A room that can be blacked out.

FAIR TEST

Make sure that you measure the same person each time.  (Taking turns will not result in a "fair test"!)

PREDICTION

What do you think will happen to the length of the shadow?

Will it stay the same wherever the person stands?

What might make it get longer?

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY

What did you do?

What did you observe?

Can you explain this?

Did you encounter any problems?

What did you do to overcome these?

COLLECT

DATA

Record the length of the shadow - and where the person (or object) was standing at the time.

ANALYSE

DATA

How will you analyse your results?

Would it help to draw a map of the room and where the person was standing?

What does this show?

PRESENT

FINDINGS

Your map might be a useful way to explain what you did.

Could you do a demonstration to show what causes shadows to get longer or shorter?

Would a diagram make things clearer?

EVALUATE

INVESTIGATION

What did you choose for your light-source?

Would something else have been better?

Why not use the sun?

If you were going to do this investigation again, what would you do to improve it?

If you have carried out this investigation, click the icon to send in your results to Brainboxx and we may publish your work on the website.  It is best to e-mail the results of your investigation or you may need to send them by post.  Make sure you get permission from a teacher, parent or other adult before you get in touch.

BBC SHADOWS

BBC - LIGHT & SHADOWS

MAGIC FACTORY OF LIGHT