Poggendorff illusion
Parallel lines appear to break the transversals off. The closer the inclination of the lines in the two families, the more pronounced is the effect.
This is a variant of another Poggendorff's illusion.
References
- The Mind's Eye, Readings from SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, W. H. Freeman and Company, 1986
Copyright © 1996-2009 Alexander Bogomolny