There is a question that has been debated for centuries: do flames have shadows?
Some say yes, and others say no. The answer to this eternal question can be found in science. It turns out there are two types of light- one type comes from the actual flame, and the other type comes from reflections on surfaces such as walls or ceilings. Depending on how close you are to the flame, some of these reflections will create shadows which appear to be coming from the flame itself.
Now, take a look at these pictures of flames. These images were taken from different angles so the shadows are clearly visible.
The first image was very close to the flame and has no shadow; this is because there isn’t enough light coming out of the flame for it to be reflected on surfaces other than its original surface- in other words, when you’re that close nothing else reflects back as far as your eyes can see! The second example shows just how much difference there can be between two objects: one with a noticeable shadow (the candle) and another without any trace of one (a glass). This is what causes people who have never seen something like a gas fireplace before to think they do not produce shadows. It’s just that the flames are so close to the wall they don’t have any room for a shadow.
Keywords: do flames have shadows, do candles produce shadows, do gas fires cast a shadow?
The scientific answer to this eternal question is YES! So go ahead and light up your fireplace or buy yourself some nice Christmas lights- it’s time you show off those beautiful new decorations with their accompanying shadows.
source: imgur (stickershock) / reddit user jibjabzjebrahs – originally posted here: “Do Flames Have Shadows?” by zipthedarkness; follow on twitter @ZIPTHEDARKNESS/@zipdarknesstvshow
This blog post will be about the eternal question of do flames have shadows.
People who’ve never seen something like a gas fireplace before might think that they do not produce shadows because it’s just that the flames are so close to the wall there is no space for a shadow. That assumption, however, would be incorrect! Yes, in fact, if you look closely at any flame (especially on TV or video) then you can see flickering light and darker areas within its “shadow.” So go ahead and light up your fireplace or buy yourself some nice Christmas lights- it’s time you show off those beautiful new decorations with their accompanying shadows.
source: imgur (/u/stickershock – original post here: Do Flames Have Shadows?) by zeeke
The Science Behind the Answer: do flames have shadows?
If you’re wondering how this scientific phenomenon of producing both light and dark spaces works – here is the simple explanation.
The space between the flame and an object is filled with glowing, heated air molecules – which produce light (sunlight) that bounces off of nearby objects like walls or furniture. The dark areas are caused by shadows cast by other objects in the room, such as a lamp shade blocking some sunlight from hitting your wall.
source: imgur (/u/stickershock – original post here: Do Flames Have Shadows?) by zeeke
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The scientific answer to the eternal question: do flames have shadows?
Do flames have shadows?
The space between the flame and an object is filled with glowing, heated air molecules – which produce light (sunlight) that bounces off of nearby objects like walls or furniture. The dark areas are caused by shadows cast by other objects in the room, such as a lamp shade blocking some sunlight from hitting your wall.
source: imgur (/u/stickershock – original post here: Do Flames Have Shadows?) by zeeke
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how does gravity work on mars?
why do we eat turkey for thanksgiving instead of deer meat? What would you like to read about next
In this article, we’ll be exploring a few of the reasons that you might see “shadows” cast by fire. It’s not just because your TV is broken – it could actually happen in real life!
Why does my phone screen show what looks like a shadow when I take a picture with flash at night? This happens when light from an external source reflects off particles suspended in air or water and back into our eyes. The higher up the object is, its more likely that it will reflect enough light down for us to notice. A good example would be looking out over Los Angeles on a clear day versus New York City where most buildings are
