Why Does Your Shadow Play Hide and Seek with the Sun?

Hi, little scientists!

Have you ever noticed your shadow—that dark shape that follows you around when you’re in the sun? It’s like a sneaky friend who grows tall, shrinks small, or even hides! Why does it do that? It’s all because of the sun moving across the sky every day.

The sun is like a big flashlight way up high. In the morning, it wakes up low in the east, shining sideways. That makes your shadow stretch out long and skinny—like a giant version of you!

By lunchtime, the sun climbs right above your head, and your shadow gets shy and short, almost hiding under your feet. Then, in the afternoon, the sun slides down toward the west, and your shadow stretches out long again, pointing the other way. Cool, right?

Your shadow changes because the sun’s light hits you from different angles as it travels. When the sun is low, the light slants and makes a big shadow. When it’s high, the light shines straight down, and your shadow shrinks. It’s like a dance between you, the sun, and the ground!

Try This Fun Shadow Experiment!

Want to see your shadow play? Here’s an easy way to watch it move with the sun.

What You Need:

• A sunny day
• A piece of chalk (or a stick if you’re on dirt)
• A flat spot outside (like a driveway or sidewalk)
• You (and maybe a friend!)

What to Do:

1. Go outside in the morning when the sun is low. Stand still in one spot.
2. Ask a friend (or a grown-up) to draw around your shadow with chalk—or mark the top of your shadow’s head with a dot.
3. Write “Morning” next to it and the time (like “8:00”).
4. Come back to the same spot at lunchtime (around noon). Stand the same way. Draw your shadow again and write “Noon.”
5. Try it one more time in the afternoon (like 3:00). Draw your shadow and write “Afternoon.”
6. Look at your chalk marks. Did your shadow get longer or shorter? Did it point a different way?

What You’ll See: Your morning shadow will be long and point one way. At noon, it’ll be super short—maybe just a puddle under you! In the afternoon, it’ll grow long again but point the other way. That’s the sun moving across the sky, making your shadow dance!

Why It Works:

The sun doesn’t really move—it’s Earth spinning! As our planet turns, the sun looks like it’s traveling from east to west. Your shadow follows the light, showing you how Earth moves every day.

So, next time you’re outside, say hi to your shadow and guess where the sun is. You’re a shadow scientist now!