3-D Illusion Disc

This 3D illusion disc confounds and stimulates the mind and is fun for all ages.  A very realistic three dimensional image is created which looks like a solid, tangible object but is really a phantom image, impossible to touch. Can you reach out and pick up the spider?
Trick your office work mates, friends, grandparents and whoever else you can think of.  This illusion disc comes with a little red furry ball and a red back spider but you can use any small object.  Some suggestions are marbles, flowers, miniature toys, buttons, rings, lollies, coins and gemstones. Must be no wider than 3.5cm across.
How does it work?
The 3D illusion disc uses special mirrors to capture the light of an object and then project it as a three dimensional image.  These mirrors have a special shape, called a parabola, and this shape means the mirrors reflect light in a very unique way. 

- Comes with stand, curved reflective base, and curved reflective top.
- Made from plastic with a silver finish.
- Disc measures 30cm in diameter.
- Includes red furry ball and plastic red back spider. Can use your own objects, must be no wider than 3.5cm across.
- Suitable for ages 3 upwards.

A parabolic mirror is a special type of curved mirror that looks like a bowl. It takes incoming light from all directions and reflects it towards a single focus point.  Parabolic mirrors also reflect light coming out from the focus point outwards in a parallel beam.
The 3D Illusion Disc utilises these two properties to create the hologram.  The object is at the focus point of the top mirror and its light is reflected downwards onto the bottom mirror.  This reflected light is then reflected again upwards where is converges at the focus point recreating the object as a 3D image.

http://www.noveltyshop.com.au/assets/alt_5/JX-3DID.jpg