Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Exploring the Science of Light: Optical Illusions
Explains what optical illusions are and offers many examples to try.
Science Struck
Science Struck: How Do Optical Illusions Work?
Learn how the eyes play tricks on us when we look at optical illusions. This resource explains many of the techniques used to challenge our visual perception.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Apparent Motion & Animation
This project investigates the phenomenon of apparent motion by making your own flip-book animations. This optical illusion experiment, while fun and short, will prove to be a very eye opening experience.
Science Bob Pflugfelder
Science Bob: See Some Optical Illusions
A webpage on optical illusions, containing a grid of black squares, an elephant with four or five legs, and a picture with three faces in it.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Different Types of Optical Illusions
Describes the different types of optical illusions and their characteristics.
Science Struck
Science Struck: History of Optical Illusions
Discover the philosophers and scientists who studied optical illusions and some of the techniques used to create the illusions.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Causes of Optical Illusions
Discusses how optical illusions are actually caused by how our eyes and brains work.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Optical Illusions for Kids
An interesting discussion of optical illusions, their benefits for children, the skills incorporated in drawing your own, and some different types.
Other
Ritsumeikan University: Akiyoshi's Illusion Pages
A large collection of visual illusions and anomalous motion illusions. The latter can potentially make a person feel dizzy and should be viewed or shared with caution.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Jacques Cousteau in Seashells
An experiment in optical illusions. Understand how seeing is a joint effort between your eyes and your brain.
My Science Site
Optical Illusions
This resource contains some optical illusions that will boggle your mind as you try to figure them out.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Far Out Corners
An activity with an optical illusion that will have your eyes seeing a cluster of boxes but is it really boxes? In this activity, explore this illusion and what happens to trick your brain to seeing what it sees.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Fading Dot
An activity with an optical illusion that will have your eyes seeing it and then not seeing it! Learn the science behind what makes the dot on the page "disappear".
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Hole in Your Hand
Create an optical illusion with this activity. Understand what your brain interprets if it receives conflicting information from your eyes.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Squirming Palm
Create this optical illusion that incorporates what is known as the waterfall effect.
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.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Touch the Spring
Explore the behavior of light as it reflects off a concave mirror in this optical illusion.
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Canada Science and Technology Museum: Background Information for Light
Light! How do we see? What makes light? Find out everything you need to know through the Q&As on this site.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: I See a Full Moon Rising, and Shrinking, or Do I?
The moon appears bigger at the horizon just as it is rising over the treetops, than it does later in the evening when it is overhead. This is because our perception of its size changes based on where it is in the sky. In this human...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Overlapping Spot
Do you know how to make a bright spot brighter? In this activity, your eyes will send conflicting information to the brain. See how you perceive what is on the paper.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Anti Gravity Mirror
Using the property of reflection, this activity will have students appearing to defy gravity.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Bronx Cheer Bulb
In this activity observe how light sources flash as you give them a raspberry. As you complete the activity, make a conclusion about what is wiggling the lights or you.
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: 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!