Is the sunset that we see in the west, actually an optical illusion,in that it actually sets in the east?

Question

In the college text book, titled, "Physical Geography - A Portrait Landscape", it states: The sunrise and sunset that we see are actually an optical illusion. It states that the sun actually rises in the west and sets in the east. I need to know the correct data relating to how this became factual proof.

Answer 1

Uhm, whoever wrote that book is an idiot.

The sun rises in the east, sets in the west.

If you have the author, please post it so I can go beat the crap out of him for trying to make the world dumber.

Answer 2

It is not an optical illusion per say. The sun actually never moves. The Earth Does. When we see the sun going down IE.. Setting we are seeing the Earth Rotating. If you took a ball and shone a flashlight would you get the light to hit all of the ball? NO , But if you turn it slowly all parts of that ball will eventually get the light. The same thing happens to The earth and the Sun. What we see is the Earth were we are on it at the time slowly turning away from the sun so that it looks like the sun is setting.

Hope this helps a bit and didn't confuse you.

Answer 3

The earth rotates from the west to the east...therefore the we see the SUN moving from the east to the west. Just like moving in our car we feel the trees and the buildings are moving back. Thus the phenomenon of the sunrise and sunset itself is an optical illusion and not the fact that the sun rises in the east.

The sun actually is stationary but appears to move from the eastern sky to the western sky

Answer 4

Well, relatively the sun isn't moving, we rotate as we revolve around it in a counter-clockwise direction when viewed from the north pole. This is a well-known and well-proven fact. And does give the illusion of the sun rising in the east as it comes to face the sun first and setting in the west.

The east coast hits noon before the west doesn't it? It makes sense that the sun will then work it's way west to make noon on the west coast.

It certainly doesn't rise or appear to rise in the west for anyone anytime... but to really throw you off... where I live, this time of year, it both rises and sets pretty close to north :) (washington)

Answer 5

I think that the optical illusion, is that it's really the Earth spinning in the opposite direction, so you could say that the Earth "rises" in the West and "sets" in the East.

Answer 6

the sun doesn't actually "rise" or "set"

the earth rotates with respect to the sun

the direction of rotation of the earth is such that we can see the sun first after darkness by looking to the east

you could conceiveably call the fact that the sun appears to us to be rising out of the eastern horizon, an "optical illustion" but that would be pushing it

go outside tomorrow with a compass and it should be obvious

sun "rises" in east and "sets" in west, always everywhere except the poles

Answer 7

The sun appears to set in the west, but it is the the earth that is moving, turning on its axis, that accounts for the appearance of sun setting in the west and rising in the east.

Answer 8

Yep. The Earth moves, not the Sun. That's the optical illusion. But the Earth moves in the opposite direction than that which we think the Sun moves.

Answer 9

Well, that book seems pretty ridiculous.

East and West are relative, and if you travel east far enough, you end up west of where you started. But that's all verbal garbage.

The sun rises East of your location and sets West of your location. No illusion there.

Answer 10

i comprehend the reply yet explaining with no white board is the issue. enable me try even as the daylight is interior the horizon about to improve or set the rays emanating from the daylight has to shuttle an prolonged distance by ability of the ambience earlier it reaches the exterior of earth. in very certainty even as the daylight is instantly above your head the atmospheric distance travelled is way less is one element. the 2d element is the exterior of earth is perpendicular to the daylight rays. So the nice and comfy temperature felt is more effective. representation Draw 2 concentric circles one for earth and the bigger one for surroundings. Now draw 2 lines. a million One vertical passing through the centre. 2 Tangential to the interior circle(earth) and horizontal degree the area of the phase of line between both circles in both situations. you'll see the reason for your self. enable me comprehend if i'm no longer sparkling everywhere you may very nearly adventure it in international locations like united states of america the position the daylight is in horizon by ability of the day in winters.