Understanding the Pig
Mount Sinai WISE Project
By Melissa Berman and Rebecca Rodbart
Spring 2001
This is a conspiracy! How is this done??
This illusion is done by using two concave mirrors facing each
other. As the light shines into the saucer object, the light is
concentrated at the center of the mirror due to the concave shape. The
image of the pig is then shown backwards and upside down to the
innocent and rather naive onlooker who attempts to touch the pig.
Well then maybe this experiment that
Because of the unique curved shape, the pig can be reflected ... Not sure how?
Then take a look at this ...
If that seemed as easy as pie for you to understand, then check out this
site.
Here's a picture of the the bottom half of the device.
Light can be focused into a powerful ray, which is visible
Because of the unique shape, we were able to concentrate
Although the concentrated power of the light could ignite
Here, the lighted paper was dropped to the ground but began
Later we stumbled upon this ...
Here you can see the pig resting peacefully on the surface of this
black saucer. However, this is all just an illusion done by
maniuplating light!
But wait! I still don't understand!
we conducted will help you understand
When we started to uncover the mystery of the "seemingly there" pig,
the first step we took was to understand the device that the pig was
in, the device that was actually creating the illusion. What this
device consists of is two saucer shaped halves covered on the inside
with a highly reflective mirror. The top half has a hole on top and
the bottom holds the pig.
The pig is the focal point of the light in this diagram. Light coming
into the saucer device hits the pig and reflects off of it, hitting
the top saucer of the device. This ray is then reflected into the
bottom saucer by a parallel ray. The reflection of this parallel ray
isn't parallel though and will exit the device via the hole in the top
saucer thus showing the "pig mirage."
However, if you don't understand it all that well or don't like math
matrices, then take a look at the experiments we conducted. We even
violated some campus laws, but don't worry, no pigs were hurt in the
process, but I can't say much for Rebecca's finger ....
Notice its saucer, concave shape and shininess.
on this piece of paper
the light into a powerful ray, so powerful that we began
lighting paper on fire.
paper, Rebecca thought it a W.I.S.E. idea to place her
finger there anyway for the sake of science.
to re-light itself shortly after. However the situation
remained under control and the Stony Brook Physics building
is still standing.
