Demonstrating Optics Principles
through Visual Tricks

There has been considerable research in recent years on "cloaking" objects using metamaterials, materials that are artificially engineered to exhibit specific optical properties that don't occur in nature [1]. Making these materials involves nano-technology but recently a scientist from the Univeristy of Rochester has reminded us that there are very simple ways to create "optical cloaks" with conventional optical materials [2]. While the term optical cloaking may be recent, in fact magicians have been making things disappear for hundreds of years by optical means.

Through simple optical tricks we can make objects appear to move, distort, or disappear entirely. By manipulating a set of mirrors we can hide objects or make a multitude of copies. Using various types of lenses we can make ourselves and objects appear to be very small, very large, disappear, or become inverted. A familiar example is that some rear-view mirrors make objects appear further away than they actually are. Conversely the bottom of a swimming pool appears closer than it really is.

In this project, we will explore various ways of changing the appearance of objects or hiding them using simple optical elements such as lenses and mirrors. Such optical tricks are used in many popular toys. At Ureca we will be the "optics magician" who entertains while demonstrating and explaining the optical principles behind a variety of devices and various toys.

[1] "News Tagged with Metamaterials." Metamaterials. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

[2] Howell, John C., Benjamin Howell. "Simple, Broadband, Optical Spatial Cloaking of Very Large Objects." 10 June 2013. Web.