Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2026
DOI
10.1119/5.0267497
Publication Title
The Physics Teacher
Volume
64
Issue
5
Pages
438
Abstract
The article focuses on estimating the area of a shadow cast by an upright circular cylinder, using a figure where the shadow and a reference object (a leaf of known diameter) are shown. It presents a problem requiring the derivation of an expression for the unobscured shadow area AS in terms of the cylinder’s radius r, height h, and solar altitude angle θ. Using this expression and an estimated shadow area from the figure, the solar altitude angle is to be inferred for a cylinder approximately 1.75 meters tall. The article is part of a series featuring Fermi questions, which involve quick estimation techniques, and directs readers to an online source for answers.
Rights
© Copyright 2026 AIP Publishing.
This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This article appeared in
Adam, J. (2026). Sir lyndrical John. The Physics Teacher, 64(5), 438.
and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0267497.
Original Publication Citation
Adam, J. (2026). Sir lyndrical John. The Physics Teacher, 64(5), 438. https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0267497
ORCID
0000-0001-5537-2889 (Adam)
Repository Citation
Adam, John, "Sir Lyndrical John" (2026). Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications. 336.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/mathstat_fac_pubs/336