Eli5: Why do wheels look like they’re spinning the wrong way when going fast?
In: Physics
The phenomenon you’re experiencing is called the wagon-wheel effect. It occurs due to the way our eyes and brain perceive fast-moving objects. When a wheel spins rapidly, the brain struggles to process each individual position of the wheel, causing it to blend together. This blending creates an illusion of the wheel spinning in the opposite direction or even appearing stationary. It’s a fascinating visual quirk, and understanding it sheds light on the complexities of human perception.
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