Impossible trident
Impossible Trident
The Impossible Trident (pronounced im-POSS-uh-bul TRY-dent), also known as an Impossible Fork or the Devil's Tuning Fork, is an optical illusion that was first recorded by American psychologist Roger Shepard. The term "Impossible Trident" is derived from the Latin words 'impossibilis' meaning 'not possible', and 'tridens' meaning 'three-toothed'.
Description
The Impossible Trident is a two-dimensional figure that is perceived as a three-dimensional object. It consists of a three-pronged fork with a rectangular shaft, where the prongs appear to be at a different orientation to the shaft, creating an impossible object. This is due to the ambiguous nature of the drawing, which tricks the brain into perceiving it as a realistic, three-dimensional object.
Related Terms
- Optical Illusion: A visual perception that appears to differ from reality.
- Ambiguity: The quality of being open to more than one interpretation.
- Impossible Object: A type of optical illusion that consists of a two-dimensional figure which is instantly and subconsciously interpreted by the visual system as representing a projection of a three-dimensional object.
See Also
References
- Shepard, R. N. (1990). Mind Sights: Original Visual Illusions, Ambiguities, and Other Anomalies. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Impossible trident
- Wikipedia's article - Impossible trident
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