Disappearing Rabbit

Introduction:

The Disappearing Rabbit is a well known magic trick that surprisingly uses the physics principle of Reflection. It is simple, yet intriguing.

Materials:

-Box

-Tape

-Rabbit

-Knife or Scissors

-Other materials for decorating the box

-Mirror that fits inside the box

Procedure:

1) Decorate the box as you please. Perhaps make a pattern inside the box so that once the mirror is placed inside the box will look empty.

2) Cut a small door or panel on the top of the box so that the rabbit will be able to be placed inside the box without having to open the larger panel.

3) Place the mirror inside the box so that it is diagonal. It should be adjusted so that the box looks like it does not contain anything inside when opened. Remember to hide the edges of the mirror so that it seems like there is no mirror at all.

4) For the presentation of the project, first open the large panel and the small panel to show the audience that the box is empty.

5) Close both panels.

6) Now place the rabbit inside of the box through the small panel that is on top of the box.

7) Now you can rotate the box or whatever you would like to do so that the audience believes that you are performing a magic trick.

8) Open the large and small panels and show the audience that there is no rabbit inside.

9) Do some "magic" again and remove the rabbit from inside the box.

10) Explain to the audience how the principle of Reflection created the illusion.

Principle of Reflection:

A light ray incident upon a reflective surface will be reflected at an angle equal to the incident angle.

The incident ray, reflected ray, and normal line to the surface all lie on the same plane.