I Wonder Why?
I’ve been wanting to start a series of posts on this for a long time. Oftentimes when we are walking in nature my kids (and I) will have questions about things we observe and find. Most of the time I can answer them, sometimes I have to go find the answer! So I thought it would be neat to post some of these questions that we encounter on my blog for you to share with your children and see what their (and your) answer is. Feel free to post your answer(s) in the comments. I’d love to know what you and your children think!
So, here is the first one:
I wonder why the shadow below the water strider does not match what the water strider looks like?
Thank you all for your thoughts! I definitely think the water distorts the images to a certain extent and that definitely has something to do with it.
Here were mine and my daughter’s thoughts: We think that the little circle shadows that are showing for the water strider’s feet are from the water tension holding the strider up. In other words, each of the water strider’s feet have little tiny hairs which provide tension on the water forming a circle of tension keeping the strider afloat. Does this make sense? And the shadow from the tension is showing! What do you think about that theory??
interesting? I have never thought of this? hum,hum,hum…I wonder if it is because of the way the sun shines past the strider, past the water and then makes a shadow on the ground? when you stand next to a wall and the sun shines upon you. You are only dealing with the sun, the object and the wall….in this case you are dealing with the sun, the object (the water) and then the ground…GREAT observation! I am looking forward to these posts!
Great idea for posts Melissa. I am looking forward to reading more.
Amanda I think you may be on to something here. Perhaps the water is distorting the image? Kind of like when you place a pencil in a glass of water. The shadow is of the distortion and not the real image.
Great thoughts Amanda! Thank for for sharing! I definitely believe that is true, water does distort the shadows for sure to a certain extent.
Here was mine and my daughter’s thoughts: We think that the little circle shadows that are showing for the water strider’s feet are from the water tension holding the strider up. In other words, each of the water strider’s feet have little tiny hairs which provide tension on the water forming a circle of tension keeping the strider afloat. Does this make sense? And the shadow from the tension is showing!