Let’s look a little closer
Put a toy between a flashlight and a wall. The toy blocks some of the light. A darker patch appears behind it on the wall.
Keep the toy and wall still. In this setup, moving the flashlight closer to the toy makes the shadow bigger. Moving the light farther back makes it smaller.
Other light may still reach the darker patch. A shadow does not have to be completely black.
What we can discover
In the real world
Blocking light can form a shadow. Changing the light's position can change a shadow's size or place.
What the story imagines
In Ollie’s world
The cave center, its particular display, and the story's discovery are invented. The Cognicore's journeys belong to fantasy.
Keep exploring
These sources are for a closer look with a grown-up.