What is the effect of contraction on a shape?

When discussing the effect of contraction on a shape, it refers to the process where the dimensions of the shape are reduced, resulting in a smaller version of the original. Contraction involves scaling down a figure uniformly, which effectively decreases the length, width, and height of the shape while maintaining its proportions.

In geometric terms, if a shape undergoes a contraction, every point on the shape moves closer to a designated center point, resulting in a smaller but similar shape to the original. This property is crucial in various fields such as mathematics and physics, where understanding transformations of shapes can impact problem-solving and real-world applications.

The other options do not accurately describe the nature of contraction: making a shape larger or keeping it the same size contradicts the definition of contraction, while saying that it changes the shape entirely suggests a distortion that does not happen in a true contraction. Thus, contraction specifically leads to a smaller version of the shape while preserving its overall form and proportions.