Have you ever wondered how visual illusions are formed? Around Halloween, we’re confronted with illusions that challenge our understanding to accurately observe things, such as in haunted houses. One method in which our eyes play tricks on us is through an event known as an afterimage. These are images you see after looking at an object for several seconds and then looking away. In this amazing science activity, you’ll watch afterimages to learn about how your eyes recognize color.
About Afterimages Kids Activity
An afterimage is a type of optical illusion in which an image continues to resemble briefly even after exposure to the actual image has ended. You have probably noticed this effect several times. If you have ever gazed for a long time at a fixed point and then quickly changed your gaze somewhere else, then you apparently noticed a brief afterimage effect in which you remained to observe the original stimulus.
Supplies You’ll Require To Get Started
- Computer with a color monitor or a color printer and paper
- Stopwatch or clock that shows seconds
- Markers, colored pencils, and paper or a basic computer graphics program (optional)
Steps Involved In The Afterimages Kids Activity
- To perform this activity you will require a circle that is parted into thirds, the top right third should be red, the bottom third should be green, and the top left third should be blue.
- If there are any lights either right next to the computer monitor or painted circle printout, turn them off.
- Now, look at the image of the colored circles, concentrating on the small white point in the center for 30 seconds.
- After looking at the circle for 30 seconds staring at the white space to the right of it.
- You can use markers or colored pencils and paper or a basic computer graphics program to draw your conclusions.
- Thinking about the rod colors and secondary colors and how afterimages are produced, see if you can describe your conclusions.
You may note how long it takes the afterimage to escape. Then look at the colored circle for only five seconds and again time how long it takes that afterimage to escape. You could try repeating this activity, but this time notice how long it takes for the afterimage of each distinct color to fade. Do some colors fade away faster? You may try doing this fun activity with different people and have each person draw their conclusions and may check if they’re all the equivalent or some different?
