Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2026
DOI
10.1119/5.0267498
Publication Title
The Physics Teacher
Volume
64
Issue
5
Pages
A438-A439
Abstract
The article focuses on estimating and analyzing the shadow cast by a person modeled as a right circular cylinder. Using a reference leaf diameter of 6.4 cm, the shadow area is approximated as 0.7 m² by treating the shadow as a rectangle. An expression for the unobscured shadow area AS of an upright circular cylinder on a horizontal surface is derived as AS = 2rh cot θ, where r is the radius, h the height, and θ the solar altitude angle; an additional term π r² applies if the cylinder is suspended above the surface. Applying this model with a height of 1.75 m and the measured shadow length yields a solar altitude angle of approximately 36°.
Rights
© 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: Solutions for Fermi questions, May 2026. The Physics Teacher, 64(5), A438-A439.
and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0267498.
Original Publication Citation
Adam, J. (2026). Sir lyndrical John: Solutions for Fermi questions, May 2026. The Physics Teacher, 64(5), A438-A439. https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0267498
ORCID
0000-0001-5537-2889 (Adam)
Repository Citation
Adam, John, "Sir Lyndrical John: Solutions for Fermi Questions, May 2026" (2026). Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications. 337.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/mathstat_fac_pubs/337