Desiree Barte

Tiana Tate

Impossible Objects: The Penrose Triangle and Square

Define:
An optical illusion is defined as an experience of seeming to see something that does not exist
or that is other than it appears. The type of illusion that our audience will experience will be the
Penrose Triangle and Square, both being impossible objects. Impossible objects involve a 2D
figure which is instantly and subconsciously seen to represent a 3D object. But, after a moment
and closer inspection, it is realized that it is impossible to exist as the lines of the object do not
go in a straightforward manner. They seem to wrap around each other, which is more evident
the more sides a penrose object has. The man who devised and popularized it Roger Penrose
said that it is impossibility in its purest form.

Describe:
Im not too sure about the math for this but, I can do my best. The type of math being used is
geometry since the illusion has to deal with shapes. The shapes are based off rather basic
ones. Squares and triangles, it should be ones we have seen as children. Maybe not. But, these
objects arent 2D, but more 3D. The first look at the object, you see a 3D version of the shape.
Another while longer, its seen that the directions of the angles or lines are warped. No longer
looking like the generic perfect square or triangle we once learned about. They are impossible.
A normal square wouldnt twist in the way that the penrose square does, nor does the penrose
triangle. Another thing I feel as though these shapes can be compared to is the Mobius strip.
The Mobius strip is a single surface that is made with two joint ends in which one is twisted half
way. For the penrose triangle If a line is traced around the Penrose triangle, a 3-loop Mbius
strip is formed. For the square it would be a one with 4-loop and so on with variants.

Initially, the use of impossible objects started in the works of the artist M. C. Escher around the
1930s. Twenty years later the mathematician Roger Penrose devised and popularized such
things. M. C. Eschers work was a partial inspiration with the Penrose triangle, square and other
variants. The starting shape is a triangle. Then extra lines are added to give depth to the shape.
Instead of simple lines, its more like bars. But, the way the lines overlap, and the perspective of
the object is really weird. Starting from the top angle of the triangle to the one to the right, it
looks like a triangle lying flat. The third angle is connected beneath the top angle and back to
the right angle. Just looking at it, you can see what I mean.

A paradox is something that is made up of two opposite things but may be true. I think that
these penrose shapes could fit. You see one thing and then another but it doesnt make sense
and it conjures up conflict when making sense of it in your head. Thats basically how our eyes
interpret this illusion. Instinct has you see a normal triangle and square, but until the eyes look
and see the directions where the rest of the lines are, the initial thought is gone. The eyes are
left trying to understand how the line of the object work and make itself.

Wonder:
How has these illusions baffled people? Mathematicians, common folk and artists alike? Have
you looked at this thing? For common folk, I think it would be quite common for it to goof the
eyes. An artist (M. C. Escher) inspired this in his work so something about it sparked his
interest. Same with Roger Penrose who furthered it in his work. In the case for mathematicians I
think the idea of a shape that is impossible in of itself is baffling. I dont think they are the kind
of people who like this stuff, or will try to find reasoning for it at least. These types of illusions
first started in painting and, and currently there are sculptures out there. So, there are a lot of art
related things that they show up in.

Reflect:
In putting out shapes on paper, I tried my best in being precise. I measured out all the lines and
angles so that they were all close to the same as I could. When working on this, I had to use the
carpeted floor of my room. Since drawing them out on that kind of surface could cause it to tear,
I had to use an old text book, which held up most of the paper which I was applying pressure to.
The tools I used in doing this was a ruler, tried using a protractor (since angles, but didnt really
help), pencil and pen to outline. I had trouble in getting the angles right in each shape, so to
help it out I measured how far the angles were from each other (an inch away), and I used that
when It came to the other angles. I noticed when writing this up, that I used a lot of repetition in
explaining how our illusion works. The warping of the shapes direction, how the first time its
seen intuition has us see a normal triangle until realizing that its not, ect.

Sources:
Paradox. Dictionary, 24 May 2014. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/paradox
Optical Illusion. Dictionary, 24 May 2014. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/optical+illusion
Roger Penrose. Wikipedia, 24 May 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Penrose
Penrose Triangle. Wikipedia, 24 May 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrose_triangle