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4 votes
Why can't we outrun our shadow?

User Joe Zack
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6.2k points

2 Answers

4 votes

For the same reason you can't outrun your own feet.

Like your feet, your shadow is connected to you. When you run, you take your head, your shoulders, your knees, your feet, your toes, and your shadow along with you. Also, hopefully, your clothing. You never outrun any of these things.

User Lavi Avigdor
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6.1k points
6 votes

Shadows are created when light is blocked by a solid object, creating a dark spot in the shape of the object on the ground. In order to avoid photons interacting with one's body long enough to create a "gap" between your feet and the beginning of your shadow, you'd have to outrun the speed of light, which is approximately 300 million meters per second, a humanly impossible feat.

Hope this helps! :)

User Cute
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5.5k points