Optical Illusions

What the Mind Sees

Optical Illusions Science Project Type Physiology (eyes, brain) Grade K-5 Difficulty Easy Safety Issues None Material Availability Books, Internet Approximate Time The time for the student to select favorite illusions Objective To demonstrate various kinds of optical illusions. The student has the option to deal with

illusions in general or to specialize in a particular type of illusion. Materials Prints of optical illusions Optional computer for animated illusions

Optical Illusions Science Project Introduction The eye and brain are both easily fooled. There are many kinds of optical illusions. Some involve

color and/or contrast. Others use perceived shapes. Still more require the image to move to create the illusion.

A simple example is to hold your finger in front of your face. You will seem to be able to see through it. But if you close one eye, your finger will become solid. For other illusions, the brain is used to perceiving things a certain way. A railroad track seems to be coming together in the distance. Knowing that the tracks are straight and parallel doesn’t prevent this automatic depth perception in real life, while drawing it on paper gives that illusion of distance and size because we are used to seeing things that way. Also, because of how the retina works, objects can seem to change in color, disappear or even move, or can be seen clearly even after the eyes are closed.

Photos ***The student will gather his/her favorite optical illusions. Research Questions What are some classic optical illusions? How would an optical illusion based on color affect someone who is color blind? How is a mirage similar to, and dissimilar to, an optical illusion?

Optical Illusions Science Project Terms Retina: the light/color detecting part of the eye Optical: having to do with sight Pixilation: dots that are perceived as a known shape Concepts The human eye and brain try to make sense of the world around us. Experimental Procedure Find interesting optical illusions. Research why the eye/brain “makes a mistake” for the examples. Bibliography http://www.eyetricks.com/illusions.htm http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/illusion/illusions.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_illusion http://www.moillusions.com/ http://www.123opticalillusions.com/

(http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/did-I-see-that-optical-illusion/)  

Illusions…..

Illusions….

Illusions….

Optical Illusions Physiological illusions consists of

bright light, patterns, and alternating stimuli that send messages to the brain during the early stages of the visual process.

Cognitive Illusions distort the position, size, or length of an object.

The Scientific Method Question: What are optical Illusions? Research: Optical illusions are visual

tricks that makes the eyes perceive to see something they don’t.

Hypothesis: I think optical illusions is the mind playing tricks on the eyes.

Test with an experiment: Observe optical illusions. Choose favorite illusions.

Scientific Method Continued Analyze Results: More than one object is

present in the photo. Some of the pictures appear to be moving. The illusions are both physiological and cognitive. Research- the brain is use to seeing objects/things in a certain way. This makes the mind see something it knows is not real, but color or distortion makes it appear real. The operation of the retina can cause objects to appear to disappear, move, change color or be seen, even after the eyes are closed.

Hypothesis is true.