Does the right hand know what the left is doing?
Material
A flat mirror 25 cm x 25 cm or larger. (10" x
10")
Two balls
Assembly
Mount the mirror on a table top or the floor so that it is parallel to the wall of a room.
To Do and Notice
Take one ball in each hand.
Point your palms toward the floor and bounce the balls off the table
or floor simultaneously. Do it over and over. Notice how easy this
is.
Look along the edge of the mirror.
Hold one hand in front of the mirror and one behind.
Bounce the balls simultaneously.
Move your head slightly in front of the mirror and watch the
reflection of the bouncing ball.
Stop bouncing the ball in front of the mirror.
Continue bouncing the ball behind the mirror.
Notice how that feels.
Stop bouncing the ball behind the mirror. Continue
bouncing the ball in front of the mirror.
Notice how that feels.
What's Going On?
Your brain coordinates the signals received from your eyeswith those received from the muscles of your hands and arms.
In this activity we have created a situation in which what your eyes see is in conflict with what your hands feel. This creates confusion which makes it difficult to do even simple activities.
An Activity by Paul Doherty.
It was shown to him by Per Torphammar of the Xperiment Huset in Vaxjo Sweden.
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Scientific Explorations with Paul Doherty |
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1 Feb 2000 |