Thaumatrope

The thaumatropes was a popular toy in the 1800’s. It consists of a small disc with different pictures on either side. There are strings on either side of the disc. When the strings are twisted, the disc spins. As the disc spins, the two images to alternate very quickly. This tricks our eyes into thinking that the two images are one. This is called an optical illusion. For example, on one side of this disc has a vase on it and the other has a bouquet of flowers on it. When the images quickly alternate, it looks like the flowers are inside the vase.

When still pictures flash very quickly like this, our eyes don’t have time to recognize them as separate images.

This thaumatrope shows a bird inside a cage.