Abstract
Abstract The possibility of perceptual distortions that make truly horizontal liquid surfaces appear oblique was investigated for 60 third-grade boys and girls. The study sought to determine whether perceptual distortions might be responsible for the slow development of liquid level invariance. Controls were introduced to insure that children could perceive and reproduce horizontals in nontilted containers. Perceptual illusions, creating the impression of an oblique liquid surface rather than a true horizontal one, were prevalent at four angles of orientation (45, 70, 110, and 135 degrees), but not in the upright position (0 degrees). Moreover, evidence for an orientation × container interaction was obtained. Results are useful in accounting for the slow growth of knowledge about the principle of liquid level invariance in stationary containers, and for the fact that sizeable numbers of adults fail to show full knowledge of the physical phenomenon.
Published Version
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