Light in Light, Shadows and images – Class 6 Science Experiment

Chapter Name: Light, Shadows and images

Activity Name: Light in Light, Shadows and images

Activity Description:

Required Items:

1. Torch
2. Book
3. Drawing sheet or plank
4. Dark room or open outdoor space at night

Step by Step Procedure:

1. Find a dark room or go outside at night where you can perform the experiment undisturbed.
2. Position the torch and the book on a flat surface.
3. Hold the torch about 30 cm away from the book, directing the light towards it. Observe the shadow of the book in the room or against a wall.
4. Note the location of the shadow formed by the book in the room.
5. Next, place the torch under the book at a distance of about 30 cm. Observe the shadow formed by the book in this new position.
6. Take note of the location of the shadow formed when the torch is placed under the book.
7. Repeat the same activity in open air (outside) at night. Observe where the shadows are formed in this situation.
8. Check if a shadow is visible in open air when the torch is placed under the book. If there is no shadow, try to understand why.
9. Place a drawing sheet or a plank about 1 meter above the book. Observe the shadow of the book formed in this setup.
10. Remove the sheet and observe if the shadow of the book is still visible.
11. Make observations and record your findings for each step of the experiment.

Experiment Observations:

• When the torch is directed towards the book in a dark room, a shadow of the book is formed on a wall or any other surface opposite to the light source.
• Placing the torch under the book in a dark room creates a shadow on the surface below the book.
• In open air at night, the shadow of the book is formed on the ground or any surface on which the book is placed.
• When the torch is placed under the book in open air, there may not be a visible shadow, as there is no screen to project the shadow onto.
• When a drawing sheet or a plank is placed 1 meter above the book, a shadow of the book is visible on the sheet or plank.
• Removing the sheet or plank may result in the shadow of the book disappearing.

Precautions:

1. Ensure the torch is in proper working condition.
2. Handle the torch and book carefully to avoid any accidents or damage.
3. Perform the experiment in a safe and controlled environment.
4. Keep a safe distance from the torch to avoid direct exposure to the light.
5. If performing the experiment outdoors, ensure there are no flammable materials nearby.

Lesson Learnt from Experiment:

Through this experiment, we learn that the formation of a shadow requires not only light and an opaque object but also a screen. The screen can be a wall, a drawing sheet, or any other surface onto which the shadow is projected.

In the absence of a screen, the shadow may not be visible. Shadows help us understand the behavior of light and the interaction between light and objects in our surroundings.