Certify Teacher Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The length of shadows is primarily influenced by the angle at which sunlight strikes an object. When the sun is positioned directly overhead, it casts light downward, resulting in shorter shadows. This occurs because the light rays reach the object at a steeper angle, leading to less horizontal extension of the shadow.

In contrast, during times when the sun is lower in the sky—such as early morning or late afternoon—the rays hit the object at a shallower angle, which causes the shadow to stretch out longer across the ground. This principle reflects the basic understanding of light and shadow formation based on the position of the sun throughout the day.

The other options do not accurately represent the relationship between the sun’s position and shadow length. The statement that shadows do not change with the sun's position ignores the fundamental concepts of light and angle. Similarly, the claim that the shadow's length changes while the angle remains the same contradicts the direct correlation between the angle of sunlight and the resulting shadow length.