Stealthy Shapes: What Geometric Shapes Scatter the Most Electromagnetic Energy?

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective of this study is to determine which of eight 3-D geometric shapes scatters the most light, by using a lux meter to measure reflected light. Methods/Materials Black-paper lined cardboard box, lux meter, led flashlight, various paper shapes. Results The shapes in order from ones that scattered the most light (reflected least light) to scattered least light (reflected most light) are: Black Flat Face (54.07 lux Average) 2-inch V-Shape (114 lux average) 4-inch V-Shape (261 lux average) 2.5-inch W-Shape (699 lux average) Crumpled Cylinder (844 lux average) Cylinder (858 lux average) 1- inch WW-Shape (919 lux average) 3.5-inch W-Shape (946 lux average) Flat Face (1297 lux average) Conclusions/Discussion It turned out that my hypothesis was partially correct. Both of the V-Shapes reflected much less light than the shapes without sharp edges such as the cylinder and flat face. However, I found that the W-Shapes and the WW-Shape reflected about the same, or more light than the cylinder, although all were less than the flat face. I discovered that it really depends a lot on the distance between the peaks on the shapes. The wider the shape was, the more light it reflects back.

Competition history

• CSEF 2016 Physics & Astronomy · Entry S1717

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