Activity: And the Shape Is

Aim: To find out the shape of the shadow

Materials:
- Actual Flashlight or use the flashlight app of the mobile phone
(if both materials are not readily available, you may use a lighted candle Caution:
Be sure to put off the candle immediately after use)
- Two spherical object ts; 1-big, 1-small (alternative: make your own balls
using crumpled used papers ;1-big, 1-small)
- ruler

Procedure:
1. Align the flashlight and the balls horizontally.
2. Point the flashlight to one of the balls.
3. Observe the shadow it casts on the ball behind it.
(Note: Perform the activity in a darkened room or during night time)

Question:
1. What is the shape of the shadow?
-
2. In what way that this simple activity supports Aristotle’s claim about the shape of the
Earth?
- Knowing that the ball's shadow is round, if the earth's shadow on the moon is round, the
earth must be spherical.
3. Supposed that the Earth is heart shape, what shadow would it formed when sunlight is
aligned with it? Why?
- If the light is aligned with the front part of a heart shape earth then its shadow is also
heart shape