experiment

The notion of perception of size >> (messing der grossenwahrnehmung)  

The following experiment shows 36 shapes, you can choose between round and square shapes. The shapes form an ascending series in which each next shape is four percent larger than the previous. Why four? That is the percentage which Van der Laan derived from a previous experiment. In the experiment people had to cut a piece of rope in half. Of course this rarely produced two exact same halves. Still, when cutting the rope the subjects rated the two halves as having the same size. Equally rare were the occasions when the halves differed more than four percent. Thus, most observers find that objects which differ in size by less than four percent are of equal size. Above four percent the differences really become noticeable.   

The difference in size of course becomes obvious when the two pieces of rope are laid down next to each other. Similarly, we see the differences in this experiment if we place all the squares and circles neatly in order. This is quite different when the shapes are scattered randomly and when we need to select from this collection a number of shapes which we deem to be of roughly the same size. Start by choosing the largest shape (by clicking it) and the shapes which only just fit together with it. Do this until you feel there is a threshold, when the next figure really seems smaller. Then you start a new series. Group the figures in different types or orders of size. In the end you will see how many types you have selected and which shapes apparently fit within that type.   

Start by choosing between circles or squares.