In one of my nighttime college psychology classes, the instructor was showing us the standard rotating discs. Changing the speed made the pattern stand still or change speed forwards or backwards. Different patterns produced different results, including blue and pink lines from black and white patterns on the wheels. She explained that the effect was caused by the human eye which took “pictures” at a certain rate.

I objected. I explained that the effect was caused by the strobing of the lights in the classroom. In response, she assigned me the project of proving my point. I’m sure she thought I would fail. The next night I brought an incandescent bulb lamp, and a battery powered lantern. I went through the set of wheels with the fluorescent room lights, and the results were the same as the night before. Then I shut off the room lights and ran the test with the incandescent lamp. The results were similar, with the strobe effect making patterns stand still, slow down, and reverse etc. But the blue and pink effect went away, as I knew it would, being an effect of the spectrum of the fluorescent light. Then I ran the tests with only the battery operated lantern. At no time did anyone in the class see anything but a blur from any of the wheels, regardless of speed. The instructor didn’t say anything.

The instructor didn’t like me much after that.

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Reality: What a concept!……………………..><Ç(((Ç°>