Optical Illusions - Web Sites for Kids

Optical Illusion Fun

Next time you need an absorbing indoor activity, try hooking your kids up with some optical illusions. Sure they're universally intriguing, but understanding them teaches important principals of optics and the psychology of perception. Here are some good web sites for enjoying or analyzing classic and modern illusions.

Sandlot Science: http://www.sandlotscience.com/ This is a fantastic site full of mind-blowing animated illusions with explanations and experiments to do. Sometimes it's hard to figure out where to click, but it's worth the trouble. Start out by clicking the links in the center column of the home page.

Optical Illusions: http://collections.ic.gc.ca/science/english/bio/projects/illusion.html Nice simple explanations of perceptual "rules" that influence how we see illusions.

48 Illusions: http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/ Better take a Dramamine before you explore this series of moving illusions - they'll make you cross-eyed before you know it. But they're sooo cool. The explanations are more technical and complex, but your kids will love watching the animations.