Crazy Curves

Crazy Curves!
Get Ready
Print out this page and carefully cut out the two curves. Then read the
instructions on the next page to see how you can make them seem to
grow and shrink!
 Make
Make Magic!
Magic!
Here’s
Here’s how
how to
to make
make the
the two
two curves
curves look
look
like they’re magically growing and shrinking!
like they’re magically growing and shrinking!
1. Hold
1. Hold one
one curve
curve inin each
each hand
hand with
with
the
the blue
blue curve
curve on
on top.
top. Be
Be sure
sure toto
line
line up
up the
the edges,
edges, as as shown
shown inin the
the
picture. Say: “Here are two
picture. Say: “Here are two crazy crazy
curves.
curves.TheTheyellow
yellowoneoneisisaalittle
littlelonger.”
longer.”
2. Put
2. Putthe
theyellow
yellowcurve
curvedown
downand
andpretend
pretend
to stretch the blue one.
to stretch the blue one.
3. Pick
3. Pick upup the
the yellow
yellow curve
curve and
and hold
hold itit
above
above the the blue.
blue. Say:
Say: “Now
“Now the
the blue
blue
one
one isis longer!”
longer!”
4.
4. Put
Putthe
theblue
bluecurve
curvedown
downand
andpretend
pretend
to
tostretch
stretchthe
theyellow
yellowone.
one.
5.
5. Pick
Pickupupthe
theblue
bluecurve
curveand
andhold
holdititabove
above
the
theyellow
yellowone
oneand
andsay,
say,“Now
“Nowthe
theyellow
yellow
isislonger
longeragain!”
again!”
6.
6. For
Forthe
thebig
bigfifinish,
nish,wave
waveboth
bothcurves
curves
ininthe
theair
airand
andput putthem
themon ontop
topof
of
each other as you say, “Now they’re
each other as you say, “Now they’re
both
boththe
thesame
samesize!”
size!”

How’d
How’d itit Work?
Work?
This
This isis aa type
type ofof optical
optical illusion,
illusion, or
or aa trick
trick on
on the
the eyes.
eyes. When
When you
you line
line upup
the
the edges
edges of of the
the curves
curves onon one
one side,
side, your
your brain
brain only
only pays
pays attention
attention to to the
the
other
other edges.
edges. This This makes
makes youyou think
think that
that the
the curve
curve on
on the
the bottom
bottom isis longer.
longer.
This
This optical
optical illusion
illusion was
was fifirst
rst discovered
discovered by by aa psychologist
psychologist named
named Joseph
Joseph
Jastrow
Jastrow inin 1889.
1889.

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