This section contains details of three optical toys, thaumatropes, phenakistoscopes and zoetropes. The names may sound complicated, but the principles are very easy, and will provide enhancement for work on the Year 6 topic, Light. All of them depend on a phenomenon called persistence of vision, which means that our eyes retain an image even after it has “disappeared” and so perceives a string of slightly different images as being one of continuous movement. This is the same idea that is used to make cartoons and other animated sequences. These simple physical animations can also be used as an introduction to computer generated animation programmes such as Scratch.
Costings (Via Ivydale Science and Technology Service: other suppliers may differ)
Thaumatropes require
Piece of Correx 6cm x 6cm: 1.8p
Piece of 3mm dowel, 6cm: Cost 2p
Template and glue (Pritt Stick or similar)
Phenakistoscopes require
Wheel (plastic) 4mm hole 15p
Piece of 4mm dowel, 10 cm. Cost 3.5p
5 cm length of plastic or waxed paper straw 0.5p
Template, glue and sellotape or masking tape
Recycled card, from cereal box or similar
Zoetropes require
Wheel (plastic) 4mm hole 15p
Piece of 4mm dowel, 10 cm. Cost 3.5p
Sheet of black paper (not via Ivydale) 5p
5 cm length of plastic or waxed paper straw 0.5p
Template, glue snd sellotape or masking tape.
Recycled card, from cereal box or simila