3. A moving image toy.
Read the description of the moving image toy.
The Thaumatrope: Description
The thaumatrope was probably invented by John Ayrton Paris in 1825. It was the first of the toys based on persistence of vision. Persistence of vision describes the way the human brain retains an image for a fraction of a second longer than the eye actually sees it. The thaumatrope consists of a round disc and two strings. On one side of the disc a bird was drawn; on the other was a cage. When the disc was held by the two strings and spun, both images merged and the bird appeared to be in the cage.
Which of the pictures below is a thaumatrope?
4. A thaumatrope.
Read how to make a thaumatrope.
The Thaumatrope: Construction
This is a simple device to build. Cut out a round disc from a piece of fairly thick white cardboard. Size is not important; anywhere from 50 to 250 mm will work well. Make two holes at opposite sides of the disc. Put a loop of string through each pair of holes. If you want to replicate the original image, draw a bird on one side of the disc, and a cage on the other. The bird should be centered so that it will fit in the cage when the disc is spun. Hold the string ends one in each hand and "wind" the thaumatrope by spinning the disc. Once the loops are twisted, gently pull them, and the disc should spin quickly, putting the bird in the cage.
Choose the best picture of someone using a thaumatrope.
