Mystery of Shadows in Light - Help Solve the Puzzle!

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A user discovered a puzzling shadow on their floor, visible through a slightly open door, and is seeking explanations. Theories suggest the phenomenon could be due to light sources like a window or door, with some likening it to a pinhole camera effect. However, the sharpness of the shadow raises questions about typical light behavior. Participants recommend drawing a floor plan to clarify the relationship between the door, window, and shadow location. Experimenting with the door's gap may also provide insights into the shadow's characteristics.
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So I wake up this morning and find this on my floor, peeking out from a door cracked open. Now I’m not scientist but I’m not unfamiliar with the simple workings of physics. I can’t quite pin down what is going on here. I’m familiar with how light can bend around things and I considered the possibility what I could be seeing here is just light reflecting off the white walls of the room inside.

Both possibilities just didn’t feel completely right.

Ahh how simple things in life can be so confounding… I'd appreciate it if someone can help me understand what I'm seeing here.
 

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Hi Chrono, :welcome:

My best guess is there are two light sources at the other side of the door: a window with a stile, or a door and a window.
Hve you ever heard of a pinhole camera ?
Here the narrow door opening might function as a slit camera: not a 2d picture as with the pinhole, but a 1d light/dark stripes pattern.
 
The light source is the sun, and it’s a single pane window in the room. I am a little familiar with pinhole cameras though I don’t believe that’s what happening here. I’m familiar with the “folding” effect light can have when it gets bent and it makes it appear to create shadows by contrast. But this dark spot is so sharp I can’t explain it with that reasoning.
 
Without knowing the details of your door and room, we can't say for certain what's causing it.
 
Chrono_13 said:
The light source is the sun, and it’s a single pane window in the room.

draw a floor plan of your room showing window, door where on the floor this image is in relation to those 2 things

make sure everything is orientated correctlyDave
 
davenn said:
draw a floor plan of your room showing window, door where on the floor this image is in relation to those 2 things

And it better be straight lines and to scale, or he's getting points taken off!
 
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Drakkith said:
And it better be straight lines and to scale, or he's getting points taken off!

hahaha

I was thinking photo, but may be difficult to get whole room in unless a wide angle lens is used and scale would then be shocking haha
D
 
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Is it just me but I don't see anything unusual in the photo. Try opening any closing the gap in the door to see how it varies.
 
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