Why do wheels in forward motion, like a wagon wheel, look like they are going backward when seen on film?

Answer 1

because you are standing on your head while watching tv

Answer 2

The ratio between the frame rate of the movie and the rate the wheel is spinning at is sometimes such that at every frame, the spokes go forward enough so that they are just behind the point where the next spoke used to be, which gives the impression of backwards motion. This also happens when watching hubcaps on the freeway, sometimes. But you know, it could also be because these old wagons had spinner rims...

Answer 3

The camera takes a certain number of pictures per second. When you watch a film, you are actually seeing a series of still photographs. It just so happens that, at the speed that the camera takes pictures, and at the speed that the wagon wheel is traveling, the series of stills that you see makes it look like the wheel is spinning the other way. This doesn't happen in real life because you see analog information in real life, not a series of stills.

Answer 4

I DID NOT KNOW THIS! THANXXXXX 4 THE TRIVIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

i dunno, I've been wondering the same thing though