TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How Optical Illusions Trick Your Brain
Optical illusions are images that seem to trick our minds into seeing something different from what they actually are. But how do they work? This learning module walks us through a few common optical illusions and explains what these...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Animation Basics: The Optical Illusion of Motion
How do animators make still images come to life? Are the images really moving, or are they merely an optical illusion? TED-Ed takes you behind the scenes to reveal the secret of motion in movies. [5:12]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Mathematics of Sidewalk Illusions
Have you ever come across an oddly stretched image on the sidewalk, only to find that it looks remarkably realistic if you stand in exactly the right spot? These sidewalk illusions employ a technique called anamorphosis- a special case...
![Sandlot Science: The Ambiguous Cube Illusion [Pdf] Activity](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/411251/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdiwmduymc02mdkylte3n2libi5qcgc.jpg?1589993104 "Sandlot Science: The Ambiguous Cube Illusion [Pdf] Activity")
Other
Sandlot Science: The Ambiguous Cube Illusion [Pdf]
Plans for building a 3-D cube illusion. Useful for projects on perception and vision.
![Sandlotscience.com: Plans for Missing Corner 3 D Cube [Pdf] Activity](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/411248/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdiwmduymc01njg0lwltaxmzzy5qcgc.jpg?1589993095 "Sandlotscience.com: Plans for Missing Corner 3 D Cube [Pdf] Activity")
Other
Sandlotscience.com: Plans for Missing Corner 3 D Cube [Pdf]
A set of plans from Sandlotscience.com for building a cubic optical illusion in 3-D. Useful for demonstrations and projects.
Other
Art of Anamorphosis
An interesting look at a type of optical illusion art that has been around for ages. You can find a full length description, examples, and downloadable software that will allow you to create your own digital version of this kind of art.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Circles or Ovals?
Did you ever wonder why you have two eyes but only see one image? This activity will explore how your brain combines the images from your eyes in surprising ways. Learn about the dominant eye and how some people do not have one!
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Cheshire Cat
In this activity, you will trick your brain into thinking that your friend has disappeared except for their smile. Understand what happens when your eyes receive different images.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Bird in a Cage
Have fun with this optical illusion. Learn about after images with this experiment.
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Fraser Spiral Illusion, False Spiral
This optical illusion image is known as a Fraser spiral illusion, or false spiral. The black arcs appear to form a spiral when in fact they are a series of concentric circles.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Parabolas
Recreate this optical illusion using two parabolic mirrors to make it appear like an object is in the center, when it is really just its image. This experiment requires special equipment which may need to be purchased.
![Color Reversing Flag [Pdf] Activity](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/411250/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdiwmduymc01njk3ltvrbwdycc5qcgc.jpg?1589993095 "Color Reversing Flag [Pdf] Activity")
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Color Reversing Flag [Pdf]
Use this picture to create a color reversing illusion. Great for projects and presentations.
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Life & Death Illusion
This black and white image is a very famous example of an optical illusion. Designed and drawn by C. Allan Gilbert, the name of the image is 'All is Vanity'. It represents both life and death where the meaning of existence is intertwined.
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Missing Shapes Illusion
These are two simple missing shape optical illusions shown in black and white. The existence of a white triangle can easily be imagined in the top image while your brain can also easily create the existence of a white sphere in the lower...
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Vertical and Horizontal Line Length Illusion
This is a vertical and horizontal line length optical illusion. The vertical line that is part of the image on the left looks longer than the horizontal line but when it is checked with a ruler on the right image it is proved that they...
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Orbison Illusion
This optical illusion, known as the Orbison illusion, gives the effect that the rectangle and inner square are distorted. This effect is caused by the horizontal V shaped lines.
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Face & Vase Illusion
This face and vase picture is a very common optical illusion. Do you a white vase or two identical black faces looking at each other?
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Moving Wheels Illusion
This excellent optical illusion is confusing because when you look at it, it appears that the nine wheels are moving, when in fact they are not.
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Parallel Lines Cafe Wall Illusion
This famous optical illusion makes the parallel horizontal lines appear to be bent when in fact they are straight. It was originally noticed amongst the tiles of a cafe wall and can now be seen in architecture such as on a large building...
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Saxophone Illusion
Does this optical illusion show a man playing a saxophone or a woman's face? You be the judge.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Exposicion De Tarjetas Postales
Four postcard-sized optical illusions that can be used to demonstrate how patterns and color influence perception.
![Sandlot Science: The Impossible Triangle [Pdf] Activity](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/411256/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdiwmduymc04otiwltflnzhom3uuanbn.jpg?1589993168 "Sandlot Science: The Impossible Triangle [Pdf] Activity")
Other
Sandlot Science: The Impossible Triangle [Pdf]
Plans for building a 3-D triangle with seemingly impossible structure. Good for projects and presentations.
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Afterimage
The following picture is an example of an afterimage, a type of optical illusion that continues to appear in one's vision even after you finish looking at the original image.
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Bezold Effect
The Bezold effect is named after Wilhelm von Bezold, a German professor of meteorology. It is an optical illusion that makes colors look different depending on their relation to adjacent colors. It works with small sections of color...