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Page Last Updated 03/08/2005
Let's Learn About Ambiguous Figures

An ambiguous figure is one where we can look at a picture and see one thing, but when we look again, the same picture appears to be doing something else!  This type of illusion is called an Ambiguous Illusion.  Here are some examples:
 

Duck or rabbit?
Do you see a duck?  Or a Rabbit?
Here is a REALLY hard one. 
Do you see an old man 
with ivy leaves around him? 
Or a couple kissing?

Old man or couple kissing?
 

Old lady or young lady wearing hat
The lady on the left is probably the most famous ambiguous illusion.

Is the lady you see..
An old lady with a big nose?
Or a young lady wearing a hat with a feather?

Another famous one. 
Is this a goblet?
Or is it something else?

Goblet or two profiles?

Picture or a word?
Is this a picture?  Or a word?
 
Here's another one.
A bunch of black shapes?
Or something else??

Shape that could be a word
 

White triangle that is not really a triangle!
When you look at this one, 
you probably see a white triangle, 
but it's not really a triangle at all!
Look again and you'll see 3 circles.
You can experiment with more ambiguous illusions by visiting the Sandlot Science Ambiguous Illusions page.  There are lots of experiments for you to try. Remember to click the back button to get back to this page!!

Next stop:  Distortion Illusions