A shadow and a Silhouette are both dark shapes seen when something is blocking light. However, they have distinct differences in the way they are created and appear.
Shadow
A shadow is created when an object blocks a source of light.
The shape of the object will be faithfully reproduced onto the surface behind it, but in a darker color. This is due to the fact that only the direct light from the source is blocked, and not any indirect light from other directions. Shadows can be seen anywhere there is bright light and a physical object, such as on a sunny day or with artificial lighting indoors.
Silhouette
A Silhouette, on the other hand, is created when an entire background of bright light is blocked by an opaque object. Unlike a shadow, which only blocks direct light from one direction, a Silhouette blocks all of the background light so that only its own outline remains visible. Silhouettes can be seen during sunrise or sunset when there are no other sources of bright light to cast shadows.
The Difference
The main difference between shadows and Silhouettes lies in how they are created. Shadows are caused by objects blocking direct light while Silhouettes are caused by objects blocking all background light. Additionally, shadows tend to be more detailed in their reproduction of the object while Silhouettes only provide an outline.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, shadows and Silhouettes are two different shapes created by objects blocking different sources of light. Shadows appear when direct light from one direction is blocked while Silhouettes appear when all background light is blocked. As such, shadows tend to provide more detail about the shape of the object while Silhouettes provide only an outline.