Hooked on Science: Capture your shadow

Materials

• Blank canvas
• Glow-in-the-dark paint
• Bright flashlight
• Wax paper
• Construction paper
• Plastic wrap

Instructions

• STEP 1: Paint the blank canvas with the glow-in-the-dark paint. Allow the canvas to dry.
• STEP 2: Shine the flashlight through a piece of wax paper, construction paper and plastic wrap. What happened? Which object is considered translucent, transparent and opaque? Why?
• STEP 3: Place your hand on the canvas, shine the bright flashlight over your hand, turn off the flashlight, remove your hand and observe. What happened? Why?

Explanation

The glow-in-the-dark paint absorbs light and then re-emits the light over a period of time, causing the canvas to glow. Your hand stops the light from reaching the paint, therefore preventing that area from glowing and making it look as if your shadow was captured.