PHYSICS 11 - SHADOWS AND IMAGES

We have observed that light travels in straight lines. This is the reason why shadows and images are produced.

A small light source illuminating a near object will produce a __________ shadow.

Sharp Shadow:

We can use the properties of similar triangles to Formula - determine

the height of a resulting shadow.

Examples:

1. A linear object that is 2.17 m tall is placed 0.75 m from a small light source. A shadow is produced on a screen
that is 1.10 m behind the object. Calculate the height of the shadow.

2. A circular object with an area of 7.06 x 10 -2 m2 is placed 0.25 m from a point source of light. Calculate the area
of the shadow produced on a screen that is 1.0 m from the light source.
Pinhole Camera Images
We will also look at images formed by pinhole cameras. Pinhole cameras also produce sharp images.

Summary of Image made from a Pinhole Camera

 Image produced by pin-hole camera is inverted (upside down)

 Real images are images that can be projected onto a screen
 Image is smaller than object

= REAL, INVERTED, SMALLER

Sometimes a magnification rate is given or needed when determining shadows and images. This represents the
ratio between the image/shadow and the object.

Magnification: = _____ or = _____

Putting these two formulas together give us an equation that we can use to determine image measurements.

Image Formula -

Example:

1. Calculate the size of an image produced by a pinhole camera that is 10.0 cm long. A 5.0m high object is placed
15.0 m in front of the camera.
SHADOWS AND IMAGES ACTIVITY Name:

Shadows
Purpose: To determine the measurements of a sharp shadow using calculations and practical data collection.

Procedure: 1. Use the Ray Box as a light source.

2. Determine and record the required measurements in the data table.

3. Draw a diagram and use the similar triangle formula to determine the height of the shadow.

Data: Sharp Shadow Measurements

Variable Measurement

ho
do from light source
Height of shadow

Distance of shadow from

light source

Data Analysis: Draw a similar triangle shadow diagram and show all calculations to determine the height of the
shadow as determined through the formula rather than direct measurement.

Diagram - Calculations -

Questions:

1. What the height of the shadow from each method (direct measurement and calculations)? Was the height the
same when determined by the two different methods? If not, what was the difference between the two values?
Images
Purpose: To determine the measurements of an image using calculations and practical data collection.

Procedure: Draw a diagram and use the image formula to determine the height of the image.

Data: Pinhole Camera Measurements

Variable Measurement

ho 2.3 cm
do 4.5 cm
hi ?
di 3.8 cm

Data Analysis: Draw a pinhole camera diagram and show all calculations to determine the height of the image as
determined through the formula rather than measurement.

Diagram - Calculations -

Questions:

1. What are the three characteristics of an image produced by a pinhole camera? (check your notes if you are
unsure!)
Shadows, Images and Pinhole Camera Problems:

1. Calculate the height of an object that, when placed 11.0 m in front of a 10.0 cm pinhole camera, will
produce an image 8.0 cm tall. (8.8 m)

2. An object 11.0 m tall is placed 16.0 m from a point source of light. A screen is placed 10.0 m beyond the
object. What is the height of the shadow produced? (17.9 m)

3. A square object has an area of 0.64 m 2. It is placed 1.00 m from a point source of light. Calculate the area
of the shadow produced on a screen 3.00 m from the light source. (5.8 m 2)

4. A 1.54 m man produces a shadow that is 1.96 m long. At the same time, a nearby building produces a
shadow that is 26.2 m long. How tall is the building? (20.6 m)
5. A 10.0 m street lamp is 14.0 m from a 1.50 m man. How long is the man’s shadow? (2.47 m)

6. When an object is placed 5.0 m in front of an 8.0 cm long pinhole camera, it will produce an image that is
5.0 cm tall.

a. What is the height of the object?

b. What is the magnification of this object?

c. What are the characteristics of the image?