ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Optical toys

Optical toys are toys that use light and mirrors to make cool images and illusions. It's like a magic trick that you can hold in your hands!

One type of optical toy is a kaleidoscope. Have you ever looked through a kaleidoscope? When you look through the eyepiece, you see pretty patterns that change when you turn the tube. This happens because the kaleidoscope has mirrors inside that reflect the colored pieces of glass or other small items you put in the end.

Another type of optical toy is a zoetrope. A zoetrope is a round drum with slits cut around the edges. When you spin the drum and look through the slits, you see a series of pictures that make it look like they're moving.

Next, there's the thaumatrope. A thaumatrope is a small card that has different pictures on each side. When you spin the thaumatrope, the pictures blend together and it looks like they're one picture!

Lastly, there's the phenakistoscope. This toy has pictures on a spinning disc. When you look through the slits in front of the disc, it looks like the pictures are moving!

So you can see, optical toys are really cool and can create amazing effects with mirrors and light. Perhaps you can try to make one yourself with some items you have at home!