Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: agniva goswami on 06/05/2010 15:30:02

Title: Why do wheels seem to go backwards at certain speeds?
Post by: agniva goswami on 06/05/2010 15:30:02

agniva goswami asked the Naked Scientists:
   
When wheels rotate it appears to move back can it happen like when a body who is in rotational motion when exceeds a certain angular velocity (which may be proportional to its mass), its fourth dimension(TIME) moves back, so it appears like that??

according to me if it does then angle of light is one of the main factor. why i'm telling is that because it is not always right to blame our eye may be the things are not in the way as we think it to be..

What do you think?

Title: Why do wheels seem to go backwards at certain speeds?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 06/05/2010 21:27:11

This only happens in the cinema and on television and in cases where the wheels are illuminated with artificial light that is driven from an AC source and has a flicker frequency.  It happens when the spoke frequency nearly corresponds to the frame rate or flicker frequency.  It should not happen when you are viewing wheels going round directly with your eyes in daylight.

Title: Why do wheels seem to go backwards at certain speeds?
Post by: RD on 07/05/2010 01:02:15

Can also occur in continuous (not flickering) lighting  ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagon-wheel_effect#Wagon-wheel_effect_under_continuous_illumination