The shadow from the flagpole

The shadow from the flagpole

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about shadows and the position of the sun.
The flagpole at Brentwood School casts a shadow on sunny days.
The Sun is at its highest at noon. The diagram shows the shadow the flagpole casts at 4 p.m.

Question Change answer

Use the grid on the diagram to draw the shadow the flagpole would cast at 10 a.m.
Your drawing of the shadow will need to show
  1. the direction of the shadow
  2. about how long the shadow is
  3. the angle the shadow makes with the flagpole.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or drawing online.
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Communicating in science, Planet Earth
Keywords: 
astronomical systems, shadows
Description of task: 
Task: Complete a diagram of the length and position of a shadow of a flagpole. Assessment focus: shadows in relation to sun's position.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Interpret representations
Scientists represent their ideas in a variety of ways, including models, graphs, charts, diagrams and written texts. This resource provides opportunities to discuss the relationships in a shadows diagram.
 
Science capabilities: 
Interpret representations
Answers/responses: 

 

Y9 (03/2000)
  • Shadow goes go to the left.
  • Shadow is shorter than 4 p.m. shadow.
  • Shadow angle is less than 4 p.m, but not straight down, i.e., in region X, although it is irrelevant if shadow is to the right or left.

easy
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difficult