Why Do Magicians' Mirror Tricks Fool Our Eyes?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do magicians' mirror tricks fool our eyes?

The Big Idea

Magicians' mirror tricks fool our eyes because we expect reflections to show what is straight behind the mirror! A slanted mirror can show a side wall instead. Then the audience sees empty space where something is hiding.

Slanted Mirror

Step one: a slanted mirror. A mirror set at a 45-degree angle can reflect a side wall. From the front, that looks like the space behind the mirror, but it is not.

Hidden Space

Step two: hiding. A magician can hide an assistant or a prop behind the mirror. The audience just sees the empty side wall in the reflection.

Brain Guess

Step three: our brains guess. Our brains assume a reflection shows things straight behind the mirror. So we do not suspect a hiding place, and our eyes are easily fooled.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The mirror sits at a slant. It reflects the side wall. A prop hides behind the mirror. And our brains guess wrong.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A stage trick called Pepper's ghost uses a clear glass sheet. A hidden object seems to appear as a ghost in the glass. Clear glass lets most light through but also reflects some, like a window at night. Magic is science with a secret, and you can learn the science behind it.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Stand a small mirror at a slant inside an open box, so it reflects the inside wall. Hide a toy behind the mirror. Look from the front. Can your friend find where the toy is hiding?

Outro

Mirror tricks fool us because our brains trust reflections. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!