Light and Shadows Interactive Simulation

Shadows form when an opaque object blocks light. With a raised light source, the shadow cast along the ground follows similar triangles: shadowH = objH × d / lightH. A taller object — or one moved farther from the light — casts a longer shadow, while moving it closer to the light shortens it. Students can change distance from light and object height and compare what happens. Use it for physics inquiry with Grades 3–4, Middle School, and High School on a projector or student device.

Standards: NGSS MS-PS4-2

• How moving the object farther from the light lengthens its ground shadow
• Why a taller object always casts a proportionally larger shadow
• Reading the similar-triangles relationship from the ray diagram
• How puppeteers use shadow geometry to control puppet size

1. 1Predict how changing distance from light will affect the shadow length, then test the prediction.
2. 2Use evidence from the interactive visual to explain the result.

Questions teachers ask