Instructional Video2:56
Curated Video

Mirage: Why Does It Look Like There's Water On The Road?

Pre-K - Higher Ed
The fake puddles of water that we see on the road on a sunny day is due to an optical phenomenon called a mirage, which is caused by the refraction (or bending) of light rays due to different temperatures of the air above the road. On a...
Instructional Video4:34
Physics Girl

Does this look white to you?

9th - 12th
When you mix red and green, what do you get? White light is all of the colors, right? So, how do computer screens show you every wavelength of light? Or do they?
Instructional Video1:27
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Thrown For A Curve- NISTory

9th - 12th
Nowadays, we take the curveball for granted, but in the early 20th century, many baseball players thought the curve’s sideways movement was an optical illusion. In the 1950s, director emeritus and baseball fanatic Lyman Briggs stepped up...
Instructional Video3:34
3D Print General

3D Printed Illusions

Higher Ed
A look at some of the optical illusions available for 3D printing (and maybe a couple of free energy perpetual motion machines). 3D Files: Anamorphic Cube: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1889022 Rightward Pointing Arrow:...
Instructional Video5:00
Curated Video

Animation and Persistence of Vision

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Animation is a common effect used in cartoons and videos that allows us to perceive movement in still images. Let's look at some common animation techniques to see how they trick our minds. Illusions part 6/11
Instructional Video3:11
Curated Video

Rods and Cones of the Eye

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Rods and cones are the structures in our eyes that allow us to translate light into images and colors. Learn how these structures work and the role they play in optical illusions.
Instructional Video5:00
Curated Video

Exploring Impossible Objects

Pre-K - Higher Ed
In this video, we explore the concept of impossible objects, focusing on the famous Penrose triangle. We learn about its origin, how it can be drawn in two dimensions but not exist in three dimensions, and how our brains interpret these...
Instructional Video3:11
Curated Video

Understanding Selective Vision

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Our eyes take in the world around us, but the real "seeing" happens in the brain. Learn how the brain processes images and why we sometimes see things that may not really be there.
Instructional Video5:00
Curated Video

Understanding Color Illusions

Pre-K - Higher Ed
This video explores the concept of color illusions and how our eyes perceive and process different shades. It discusses the role of rods and cones in our eyes, the visible light spectrum, and the influence of background objects and...
Instructional Video3:14
Curated Video

Understanding Motion Illusions

Pre-K - Higher Ed
In this video, we explore how our brain processes visual information and how it can be tricked by optical illusions. From moving images to motion illusions, we learn how patterns, colors, and brightness play a role in shaping our...
Instructional Video3:10
Curated Video

Understanding Visual Distortion

Pre-K - Higher Ed
In this video, we explore various optical illusions that demonstrate how our perception can be distorted. From lines appearing bent to circles appearing different in size, these illusions challenge our visual understanding. By...
Instructional Video3:11
Curated Video

Understanding Isometric Illusions

Pre-K - Higher Ed
This video explores the concept of isometric illusions, where two-dimensional images on a flat surface appear three-dimensional. It discusses how this technique can create spatial relationships that are impossible in reality, showcasing...
Instructional Video3:31
Curated Video

Camouflage: The Art of Concealment and Visual Perception

Pre-K - Higher Ed
In this video, we explore the fascinating concept of camouflage. From military uniforms to animals blending into their surroundings, we delve into the science behind this adaptive ability. Discover how our visual system and perception...
Instructional Video3:10
Curated Video

Learning from Optical Illusion Artists

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Learn how some artists use a combination of negative space, light, and dimension to create compelling optical illusions.
Instructional Video3:10
Curated Video

The Flash Faced Distortion Effect

Pre-K - Higher Ed
In this video, we explore the flash faced distortion effect, an intriguing optical illusion that distorts our perception of faces. By focusing on a central point and using our peripheral vision, the faces in the video appear caricatured...
Instructional Video5:00
Curated Video

The Infinite Chocolate Trick

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Learn all about the infinite chocolate trick, a popular internet phenomenon. By making strategic cuts and rearranging the pieces, the illusion of an unlimited supply of chocolate is created. The video explains the mathematical and visual...
Instructional Video3:13
Curated Video

Optical Illusion Art Appreciation

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Things aren't always what they seem to be at first glance. Look at examples of artwork that appears first as one thing, then begins to look like something very different.
Instructional Video3:10
Curated Video

Artistic Optical Illusions

Pre-K - Higher Ed
This video explores the concept of optical illusions in art, highlighting how arrangements and compositions can deceive our perception. It showcases various examples, including images formed by branches and sidewalk art that create...
Instructional Video3:11
Curated Video

The Barbershop Pole: History, Illusion, and Visual Perception

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Let's explore the history and visual illusion of the barbershop pole. Originally a symbol of bloodletting, the pole's rotating stripes create a paradox in our perception of motion. Through research conducted by psychologists in the 20th...
Instructional Video3:35
Curated Video

The Fascinating Ways Our Brain Interprets Images

Pre-K - Higher Ed
This video explores how our eyes and brain interpret images and showcases various optical illusions. It demonstrates how focusing on one thing can make another disappear and how our brain can be tricked into perceiving images...
Instructional Video10:37
Curated Video

Creating a Shattered Text Effect in Microsoft PowerPoint

Pre-K - Higher Ed
In this tutorial, Justin demonstrates how to create a shattered text effect in Microsoft PowerPoint by strategically using text boxes, triangles, and freeform shapes to give the illusion of shattered glass. By breaking down the process...
Instructional Video3:08
Curated Video

How Our Brain Perceives Light and Dark

Pre-K - Higher Ed
This video explores the fascinating phenomenon of how our perception of light and dark objects can be influenced by the background they are presented on.
Instructional Video3:33
Curated Video

Exploring Impossible Figures and Optical Illusions

Pre-K - Higher Ed
This video explores the concept of impossible figures, which are images that appear logically consistent but seem impossible to construct. It showcases various examples, including the famous impossible triangle, rotating heads, and...
Instructional Video3:10
Curated Video

Understanding the Muller-Lyer Illusion

Pre-K - Higher Ed
In this video, we explore the concept of visual illusions and how our perception of objects can differ from person to person. Using the Muller-Lyar illusion as an example, we delve into different theories that attempt to explain why...