Why Do Shadows Change During the Day? | A2 ESL Science Reading Passage

Use this A2-B1 ESL science reading passage to learn why shadows change during the day. It includes key vocabulary, reading comprehension questions, and answers for English learners.

Shadows change as the Sun appears to move across the sky.

Reading Level

A2-B1

Word Count

200 words

Reading Passage

A shadow forms when an object blocks light. On Earth, most outdoor shadows come from sunlight. When sunlight hits a tree, a person, or a building, the object stops some light from reaching the ground.

Shadows change during the day because the Sun's position in the sky changes. In the morning, the Sun is low in the sky. Its light comes from the side, so shadows are long. A tree may make a long shadow across the ground.

Around noon, the Sun is usually higher in the sky. Sunlight comes more from above. Because of this, shadows become shorter. A person standing outside may see a small shadow near their feet.

In the afternoon, the Sun looks lower again. The light comes from another side, so shadows grow longer again. They also point in a different direction from morning shadows.

The Sun seems to move across the sky, but Earth is really turning. As Earth turns, different places face the Sun at different angles. These angles change how light reaches objects on the ground.

Watching shadows is a simple way to notice Earth's movement. A shadow can show the time of day, the direction of sunlight, and the changing path of the Sun.

The Sun's position changes the length and direction of shadows.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Meaning	Example
shadow	a dark shape made when something blocks light	The tree made a shadow on the grass.
sunlight	light from the Sun	Sunlight made the room bright.
block	to stop something from passing through	The wall can block sunlight.
position	the place where something is	The Sun's position changes during the day.
noon	the middle of the day	Shadows are often shorter at noon.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What makes a shadow?
2. Why are shadows long in the morning?
3. What happens to shadows around noon?
4. Why do afternoon shadows point a different way?
5. What is Earth doing while the Sun seems to move?

Answers

1. A shadow forms when an object blocks light.
2. Morning shadows are long because the Sun is low in the sky.
3. Around noon, shadows become shorter.
4. They point a different way because sunlight comes from another side.
5. Earth is turning.

Short Summary

Shadows change during the day because Earth turns and the Sun appears in different positions in the sky.

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