Dragon Optical Illusion

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:44 pm

This little dragon appears to be looking at you. But if you rotate the base this way or that the dragon's head appears to turn the other way...

Or if you stand the dragon on a shelf and walk about, the dragon's head follows you around the room. And yet it is simply a sheet of paper, cut and folded in a certain way. How does it work?

When we see a solid object rotating, there are all sorts of clues that tell us what is going on, which way it is rotating, etc. The dragon gives us the wrong clues, because we mis-interpret what its shape is. The nose of the dragon appears to be pointing out towards the viewer, but in fact the dragon's head is concave. Have a look at the dragon from the back...

http://www.grand-illusions.com/dragon.htm

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lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:52 pm

been making margaritas again Tombstone?

...actually, that thing is CUTE!

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 5:02 pm

lady cop wrote: been making margaritas again Tombstone?

...actually, that thing is CUTE!

Not yet, unfortunately. :p

I printed out the plans and my daughter is going to make it after her homework is done. It should be fun to try!

persephone · Post by **persephone** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:15 am

You need to see the video of this for it to make more sense... It's quite good.