Visit the
Molecular Expressions Website

Galleria
Photo Gallery
Silicon Zoo
Chip Shots
Screen Savers
Museum
Web Resources
Primer
Java Microscopy
Win Wallpaper
Mac Wallpaper
Publications
Custom Photos
Image Use
Contact Us
Search
Home

Optical Illusions:

Color Wheels

Optical illusions based on movement can be constructed in a variety of ways. Here we explore color wheels (with adjustable speeds) using simple patterns that create some spectacular optical illusions. The interactive tutorials listed below contain a combination of different patterns for your enjoyment.

Each pattern takes approximately 8-15 seconds to download over a 28.8K modem.

Color Wheel #1 - A multi-colored disk spins rapidly to show the apparent change in color.

Color Wheel #2 - Another multi-colored disk can be spun at varying speeds to demonstrate the shift in apparent color with wheel speed.

Color Wheel #3 - A color wheel with a yellow, black, and red pattern that appears to actually slow down when rotation speed is increased.

Color Wheel #4 - This pattern, containing three colored straight lines, creates geometric patterns when spun at high speed.

Color Wheel #5 - Another colored three-line pattern that generates geometric patterns when spun at high speed.

Color Wheel #6 -- This six lined symmetrical pattern displays interesting effects when spun at varying speeds.

Color Wheel #7 - A pattern containing three green lines of varying hue produces circles, stars, and tic-tac-toe layouts as a function of rotation speed.

Color Wheel #8 - When this three lined pattern is spun fast enough, it appears to create a large square.

Color Wheel #9 - A radial pattern of multi-colored lines creates strange and beautiful designs when spun at varying speeds.

Color Wheel #10 - This four-lined pattern creates a variety of circle and square shaped geometric patterns.

Color Wheel #11 - A black and white pattern can often create apparent color patterns when the disk is spun at the highest speeds.

Color Wheel #12 - This black and white pattern has interior portions that appear to rotating in different directions when the wheel is spun at high speed.

Color Wheel #13 - This black and white spiral pattern appears to have a tinge of color in the center at high rotation speeds.

Questions or comments? Send us an email.
© 1995-2022 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, software, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
This website is maintained by our
Graphics & Web Programming Team
in collaboration with Optical Microscopy at the
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Last modification: Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 10:06 AM
Access Count Since December 24, 1999: 72288
Visit the websites of our partners in education: