Description
When you watch a video, you’re not actually seeing moving images. Instead, you’re seeing still images displayed so quickly that our brains blend these images into one smooth picture.
The principle behind this is called ‘persistence of vision’: the ability of the human eye and brain to retain an image for a fraction of a second after the image has disappeared.
In the Zoo Trope, the images on the inside of the cylinder are seen quickly one after another through the slits. If the Zoo Trope spins fast enough, you see the image move. This principle laid the foundation for the development of film technology. This principle is still relevant for modern digital screens and animation techniques.
Without these techniques, an animator would have to draw 24 or 25 detailed images for just one second of moving image!
How do you see moving pictures?
- Press the button and make the Zoo Trope spin.
- On the inside, look at the pictures.
