This optical illusion lets you turn two pictures into one. Did you know your brain uses short cuts in order to process all the millions of things we see at any one time. An optical illusion “tricks” your eyes and brain.
What you need:
- white cardboard
- pencils and colouring pens
- scissors
- glue/sellotape
Instructions
- Cut out two shapes from a sheet of white cardboard.
- Draw whatever you want, but we tried some fish on one piece and the tank on the other.
- Glue or sellotape a pencil in between the two pictures.
- Hold the pencil between your palms and rub your hands to make the picture spin around.
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The Science bit
The fish should look like they are inside the tank.
This is the same concept used for making cartoons, still pictures are moved very quickly to create an illusion of movement.
Not Yet a Yummy Mummy
August 9, 2011 at 8:55 pmOh fantastic, simple but know William will loveit!
Ross Mannell
August 9, 2011 at 11:20 pmThis is an old favourite. When the flicker rate is high enough, the brain starts to blend the two images so we see the bird in the cage. Wonderful. How sad it would be if this were not so. Seeing a movie would become a series of still images.
Ross Mannell (teacher)
Australia
Karima
September 6, 2011 at 9:36 amHi saw you on linky party, what a great project for the kids! Now google following, would love it if you popped by, Karima 🙂 http://www.karimascrafts.com
Robin
September 7, 2011 at 6:09 pmInteresting. Thank you so much for linking up to Upcycled Awesome at http://www.thetshirtdiaries.com
Kim S.
September 9, 2011 at 1:29 pmKids love this one! Thanks for sharing. Saw you at For the Kids Fridays.
Discovering Montessori
September 11, 2011 at 3:01 pmTotally doing this one! I want to do this myself. Thank you for sharing.
ScienceSparks
September 14, 2011 at 10:11 pmSo glad you liked it! x
Phyllis at All Things Beautiful
September 11, 2011 at 3:02 pmGreat fun! Love it when science and play go together.
ScienceSparks
September 14, 2011 at 10:11 pmThank you. x
Aimee
September 15, 2011 at 12:38 amYou have such fascinating ideas! Thank you for sharing this on The Sunday Showcase!
creativejewishmom/sara
September 15, 2011 at 6:16 amthanks for bringing back memories of childhood science projects! my boys will LOVE this one, and I’m quite sure will run to school with it! thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!
cathy at nurturestore
September 15, 2011 at 10:58 amThanks for sharing this with the Play Academy – great to see the video showing how it really works.
Debs
October 24, 2013 at 8:05 amWhat a simple yet fun activity for kids. We’ll definitely be having a go. Thanks so much for sharing it. Pinned! 🙂
Natalie F
October 24, 2013 at 6:53 pmGreat experiment to explain optical illusions! Thanks for sharing it with Afterschool!
Anna@The Measured Mom
October 25, 2013 at 8:41 pmI remember how fun these were to make as a kid. Thanks so much for sharing at After School!
Give Glory to God
November 14, 2017 at 11:45 amThat is so cool! God has made our brains with such skill and design!
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