What is a zoopraxiscope?

• A. A lantern that projects rotating images onto a screen.
• B. A device used to capture moving pictures on film.
• C. A painting technique involving light pigments.
• D. A type of printing press used for books.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing an early device that shows motion by projecting a sequence of images. A zoopraxiscope is an early projection device used to display moving pictures before film. Invented by Eadweard Muybridge, it works like a lantern that shines light through pictures arranged on a disc or series of slides and rotates them so the images appear in quick succession on a screen, creating the illusion of movement. It’s about projecting motion, not recording it on film, and it isn’t a painting technique or a printing press. This device is a precursor to modern cinema projection, used to study animal and human locomotion and to illustrate motion sequences.