eli5: Why do bigger aircraft appear to be flying more slowly than smaller ones both from the ground and from the inside?

Question

Every time I see a large plane in the sky, or even riding in one, it seems like it just flies more slowly. I wonder if it’s an illusion or do they actually fly more slowly?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Bigger planes tend to fly at higher altitudes. It’s like seeing a vehicle in the distance, they appear to be traveling very slow but in fact they might be going 60 MPH.