Place the cylinder it on a flat surface, such as a table. Stand directly above the cylinder and tilt your viewpoint at approximately a 45-degree angle. Now, begin slowly rotating the cylinder. As you do so, observe the shape closely, and you'll notice that it alternates between appearing as a circle and a square. Finally, complete the experiment by rotating the cylinder 180 degrees to observe the captivating transformation.
This enigmatic cylinder defies logic! From one angle, it presents itself as a square, but shift your perspective, and it magically transforms into a circular shape. Astonishingly, when you place it before a mirror, you witness both sides simultaneously—the circle before you, and its reflection in the mirror as a square, or vice versa. However, this bewitching illusion only unfolds when viewed from a specific angle.
The cylinder is carefully made to create an amazing trick. It looks like a square from one side and a circle from the other, but only when you look at it from a special angle - albeit exclusively when viewed from an elevated 45-degree angle. Nevertheless, a true revelation awaits those who choose to look directly down upon it, exposing its actual form. The top and bottom of the cylinder are not flat; they are curved. When you look at it from a certain angle, your mind gets confused and thinks the curves are flat. This makes your brain tricked into seeing either a square or a circle, depending on which side you look at the cylinder from. It's like a cool magic trick!
See the explanation in the next video and take the opportunity to make the connection with the constellations.