When light strikes an object through which it cannot pass, this is formed:

When light strikes an object through which it cannot pass, this is formed:

• A. Reflection
• B. Refraction
• C. Absorption
• D. Shadow

Answer: (D)

Light travels in straight lines, so when an opaque object blocks the path of light, no light reaches the surface behind it. That results in a shadow—a dark area whose shape matches the object as seen from the light source. A shadow forms specifically because the light cannot pass through the object, not because light is bouncing off (that would be reflection) or bending as it passes through a different material (that would be refraction) or being absorbed inside the object (which happens, but doesn’t create the visible dark area behind it). If you shine a light on your hand, you’ll see a shadow on the wall where the light was blocked.

Light travels in straight lines, so when an opaque object blocks the path of light, no light reaches the surface behind it. That results in a shadow—a dark area whose shape matches the object as seen from the light source. A shadow forms specifically because the light cannot pass through the object, not because light is bouncing off (that would be reflection) or bending as it passes through a different material (that would be refraction) or being absorbed inside the object (which happens, but doesn’t create the visible dark area behind it). If you shine a light on your hand, you’ll see a shadow on the wall where the light was blocked.