[February 03, 2016]      

Fifth grade through eighth grade students at Zion Lutheran School are learning about parabolic curves and optical illusions in their art classes. Using parabolas, students are drawing colorful, creative optical illusions.

For example, when you kick a soccer ball or shoot an arrow, fire a missile or throw a stone, it arcs up into the air and comes down following the path of a parabola. Parabolas are also found in nature -- watch a fish jumping out of the water. And the St. Louis Gateway Arch is a perfect example of parabolas use in architecture.

Using various parabolas, the students are making optical illusions, images that trick our brains into seeing things that may not be real.

Pictures provided by Georgie Borchardt, Zion Lutheran School, Lincoln