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  1. Home
  2. Physics Demonstrations and Equipment
  3. Optics
  4. Geometrical Optics
  5. Straight Line Propagation

Straight Line Propagation Concept

Demonstrations in Straight Line Propagation

Three-panel image: (left) Mini Maglite with wooden bar casting a sharp shadow on the wall, (center) round frosted bulb with the same bar casting a diffuse shadow, (right) tall clear filament bulb with the bar held horizontally
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Shadows

Students observe how source geometry determines shadow sharpness. A point source (Mini Maglite) casts sharp shadows; an extended source (frosted bulb) produces penumbra. A tall clear filament bulb shows orientation-dependent …

Physics Undergraduate Laboratories
Department of Physics
390 UCB
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309

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