Joseph Plateau & The Phenakistocope

Background & Information

- He was fascinated by physics & their experiments

- Intrigued by luminous impressions he performed an experiment which affected him in later life

- He graduated from university as a doctor of physical and mathematical sciences

- He was later appointed Professor of experimental physics at Ghent university

- Looking into mathematical science and the effects of the retina he produced the first device to give an illusion of a moving image.

The Phenakistocope

- first person to demonstrate the illusion of moving images

- uses a spinning disk attached to a vertical handle and shows the motion of an object such as an animal leaping or turning

- Around the centre of the disk are drawings of the same subject

- Slight changes are made in each image so when the disk is spun the images create a single moving picture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JeN3uk2ClE

• Sources• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Plateau• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JeN3uk2

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