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Health | Science
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Illusion and reality
In the Living Head trick, created by Penn and Teller,
a carefully placed mirror fools viewers into thinking
the head has no body
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Front wall,
same color as back,
separates spectator
from the trick
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Checkered floor
creates perception
of depth due to
receding lines
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Mirror, which
spectators don't
notice, reflects front
wall, floor and arms
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Hoses, which are
merely distractions,
appear to feed fluids
to the head
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Arms with
disks appear
to support
the head
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| Light bounces off the mirror
in the same angle as it arrives,
making the checkered floor appear
to continue past where the
participant's body should be. |
Mirror, located precisely halfway
between the identically painted front and back walls, hides the participant's body and reflects the
checkered floor and the metal arms.
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 Next: Try this at home
SOURCE: ''Magic:The Science of Illusion'' exhibit © The Museum of Science
Graphic: Globe Staff / Joan McLaughlin
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