Eli5: Why do wheels look like they’re spinning the wrong way when going fast?

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Eli5: Why do wheels look like they’re spinning the wrong way when going fast?

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12 Answers

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It’s called the “wagon-wheel effect.” Essentially, when the frame rate of a camera doesn’t match up with the rotation speed of the wheel, it creates this optical illusion. Your eyes and brain work kind of like a camera, so you see the same effect in real life sometimes. It’s freaky but fascinating!

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