Optical illusions

Principle

It is the responsibility of physics classes to direct the students' attention to the inadequacy of our senses for understanding physical reality at suitable times. The students learn, e.g., that our temperature sense is not reliable. That we can also be fooled by our eyes should become clear to them during their examination of the illustrations provided in this experiment.

To explain optical illusions is extremely difficult, as we enter a boundary area between physics, biology and perceptional psychology. The teacher must thus limit himself to directing the students attention to these phenomena, which are indeed interesting, to providing a small survey of a few types of illusions, and to giving simple explanations for them.

Benefits

• Multifunctional light box: Can be used for geometric optics on the table, for colour mixing and for experiments on an optical bench
• Extension with others sets at anytime, no additional light sources needed, recognition value for students

Tasks

Do we see everything as it really is? Examine the illustrations, which all cause optical illusions, and attempt to find explanations for the illusions.