Shadows


A shadow is an absence of light 
yet to make one 
you need a source of light
you also need an opaque object 
of which the shape of the shadow will be formed
You need a surface onto which the shadow is projected.

A shadow appears when light from a source is obstructed by an object yet shadows do not occupy "space"
Shadows are mostly black
but can be coloured under certain  specific circumstances.

An object can form more than one shadow 
if more than one light source plays upon the object.
A shadow is a virtual image of a real thing
which science says can move by itself 
yet they are not "living"
they appear to flicker 
but this can be caused by the light source flickering.

There are shadows on the moon - created by the moon itself.
Pure water - with no suspended particles in it 
casts no shadow.
Light casts shadows - yet a flame won't.
Glass casts only a faint shadow.
Air can bend light away from its forward direction 
and so create a shadow.
Aeroplanes cast shadows 
but only when they're close to the ground. 
Ironically
once in the air
the shadow is lost under the light source which made the shadow in the first place.

Shadows are fascinating!



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