4.1.4
Shadows
Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
Shadows
When light from a light source is blocked, it forms a shadow. If you are outside on the playground when the sun is shining, you can see your shadow.

Opaque materials
- Shadows are made when materials block light.
- Materials that block light are 'opaque'.
- Your body is opaque and blocks the light from the sun.
- The metal of a car body is another opaque material.

Transparent materials
- Transparent materials let enough light through so that we can see clearly through them.
- The glass windows of a house are transparent.

Translucent materials
- Translucent materials let some light through them, but not enough to see details.
- Tracing paper is translucent.
Changes in Shadows
You can make your shadow change on the playground by changing the shape of your body.

Changing your shadows
- You can make your shadow longer or shorter.
- You can also make your shadow look like something else.
- Can you make a shadow that looks like a teapot?

The size of shadows
- Make a shadow on the wall using a projector or a torch.
- Do not look directly into any bright light.
- Pick an object that is opaque. How can you change the size of the shadow without moving the light source?

Bigger/smaller shadows
- Moving the object closer to the light source will make the shadow bigger.
- Moving the object further away from the light source will make the shadow smaller.
1Year 3: Plants
2Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)
3Year 3: Rocks
3.1Rocks on Earth
4Year 3: Light
4.1What is Light?
5Year 3: Forces & Magnets
6Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats
6.1Grouping Animals
6.4Grouping Plants
6.5Classification Keys
7Year 4: Animals, Including Humans
7.1Teeth
7.2Digestion
8Year 4: States of Matter
8.1The 3 States of Matter
8.2The Water Cycle
9Year 4: Sound
9.1How Do I Hear?
9.2Pitch
10Year 4: Electricity
10.1Uses of Electricity
10.2Conductors & Insulators
10.3Making Circuits
Jump to other topics
1Year 3: Plants
2Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)
3Year 3: Rocks
3.1Rocks on Earth
4Year 3: Light
4.1What is Light?
5Year 3: Forces & Magnets
6Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats
6.1Grouping Animals
6.4Grouping Plants
6.5Classification Keys
7Year 4: Animals, Including Humans
7.1Teeth
7.2Digestion
8Year 4: States of Matter
8.1The 3 States of Matter
8.2The Water Cycle
9Year 4: Sound
9.1How Do I Hear?
9.2Pitch
10Year 4: Electricity
10.1Uses of Electricity
10.2Conductors & Insulators
10.3Making Circuits
Practice questions on Shadows
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1What is an opaque material?Multiple choice
- 2Select the correct sentence:True / false
- 3How can you make a shadow bigger?Multiple choice
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