Physics · Foundation

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Shadows and similar trianglesRunning
Reflection deck. Flagpole height at 16.6 m. Pupil ratio scaled 41.5 m, Flagpole shadow 22.5 m. Currently pupil ratio scaled is over by 19 m.TUNING
t = 0.0s

Pupil ratio scaled

41.5m

Flagpole shadow

22.5m

Pupil ratio scaled is over by 19 m

16.6 m

Reflection deck. Flagpole height at 16.6 m. Pupil ratio scaled 41.5 m, Flagpole shadow 22.5 m. Currently pupil ratio scaled is over by 19 m.

What has to balanceh1s1=h2s2\frac{h_1}{s_1} = \frac{h_2}{s_2}

What is happening

You arrive at a school measuring a flagpole without climbing it.

Nobody knows how tall the flagpole is. A 1.5 m pupil casts a 2.5 m shadow, and the flagpole casts a 15 m shadow at the same moment.