Activity Overview
Young magicians will have a lot of fun with this very easy illusion. This illusion is one of now you see it now you don't. It's explanation is rooted in Science and has to do with light refraction. When light passes through the glass of water, it's path is bent and it allows you to see the sticker at the bottom of the glass.
When you place the saucer on top of the glass of water, the saucer blocks the refractive rays of light which essentially blocks the image of the sticker from being seen from any angle around the glass. Remove the saucer and add a few more incantations and make the sticker reappear!
Materials Needed
- Water
- A glass
- A table
- Paper
- A sticker
- A saucer
How to Do It
- Place a sticker onto a piece of paper and lay it flat on the table.
- Fill a glass up with water and set the glass down on the table over top of the sticker.
- Show your audience that you can see the sticker through the glass.
- Place a saucer on top of the glass as you say some magic words.
- Peer into the glass and ask your audience to do the same. The sticker will have vanished from sight.