Light and shadow A physics student strolling through a park on a sunny day walks

Question

Light and shadow A physics student strolling through a park on a sunny day walks under some trees and sees bright circular spots on the ground. The student, who has been studying geometrical optics in physics class, comes up with the following explanation to account for the shape of the bright spots. "The sunlight is passing through holes in the canopy of leaves above my head and forming the bright spots. The bright spots on the ground arc circular in shape, so the spaces between the leaves must also be circular." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain your reasoning. Suppose that this student were walking through the same park during an eclipse of the sun, so that the sun was crescent shaped, rather than round. What would the student see on the ground in this case? Would it be different than what the student observed on the sunny day? If so. how ? If not. why not?

Explanation / Answer

1)

No, it may or may not be possible..

Light bends through holes/boundaries.due to scattering effect

So, if the holes are too small then the effect may be very different from when the holes are bid

2)

Here the intensity will be different

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse L
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.