Light and Shadow (Class 5 CBSE): 16 MCQs with answers

D · Rectilinear propagation

Light travelling in straight lines is called rectilinear propagation. This is the key reason shadows form exactly behind opaque objects.

D · No shadow forms

Glass is transparent, so light passes through it completely. No light is blocked, so no shadow forms.

D · A mirror

A shadow needs a light source, an opaque object, and a screen. A mirror is not required — it is used for reflections, not shadows.

A · The side opposite the light source

Light is blocked by the object, so the area behind it (away from the light) receives no light. That is where the shadow forms.

C · Translucent

Butter paper lets some light through but not all, so it is translucent and forms a faint shadow.

A · True

Light travels in straight lines, which is why shadows form exactly behind opaque objects.

D · It becomes larger

Moving the object closer to the light source makes the shadow larger, because the light spreads out more behind the object.

C · The Sun is almost directly overhead

At noon the Sun is almost directly overhead, so light hits you from above and your shadow falls almost under your feet — making it short.

D · A shadow forms behind an object; a reflection forms in front of a shiny surface

A shadow is a dark area behind an opaque object. A reflection is light bouncing off a shiny surface and appears in front of it, showing colour and detail.

C · Light travels in straight lines

Light from the top of the object goes straight through the hole to the bottom of the screen, and vice versa. This inverted image proves rectilinear propagation.

D · A wooden block

Wood is opaque, so it blocks all light and casts a dark, clear shadow. Glass and water are transparent, and butter paper is translucent.

B · A ball casting an oval shadow when light hits it from the side

The shape of a shadow depends on the angle of light and distance from the screen. A ball can cast an oval shadow when light strikes it from the side, so a shadow is not always a perfect copy.

C · A fainter shadow, because some light passes through

Translucent materials let some light through, so less light is blocked and the shadow is faint rather than dark. Transparent materials would cast no shadow at all.

A · Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A

The Moon is opaque, so it blocks sunlight and casts a shadow on Earth — that is exactly what a solar eclipse is. R explains A correctly.

A · It becomes larger and blurrier

Moving the object farther from the screen makes the shadow larger and blurrier, because the light spreads out more before reaching the screen.

C · I and III only

Statement I is correct — a screen is needed for the shadow to fall on. Statement III is correct — light travels in straight lines. Statement II is wrong because transparent objects let light through and form no shadow.