Why do distant objects appear smaller than they do when nearer?

Answer 1

They fill up a smaller anguler aperture of your vision. For example, if a beach ball were held against your face, it wouldFILL your field of vision. If you held it, say, 15 inches from your face, it might fill up an angular aperture of 45 degrees.
Your brain learned a long time ago that things the SAME distance apart can be differentiated in size based on how many degrees of your field of vision they fill. Therefore, "large" is associated with "big angle". When you were a baby,you probably actually believed closer things were larger, but learned from experience that they are not.

Answer 2

The size of the image of a distant object is altered when light reflected from the object, enters your eyes through your cornea, which acts as a lens. AS such, you can draw your own ray diagram to display the changes in size (magnified / diminished), nature (virtual / real) and position (upright / inverted) between the image you receive and the real object. Vary the object distance from the lens vertical at (x < F), (x = F), (F < x < 2F), (x = 2F) and (x > 2F) where F is the focal length of the lens.

For distant objects, the distance between the object and the lens vertical is > 2F. As such, you will find that the image produced at such distance is diminished (very small), real and inverted. Also, its good to know that the further the object is, the smaller is the image produced.

*The image produced is focused on your retina, unless you are short-sighted / far-sighted. Your brain will perceive it in a way that inverts this image, so you don't see things in an upside down manner!

Hope this helps=)

Answer 3

Because they are further.
Look at your filed of vision, even assuming that you can look all around, you are still looking as if you were inside a sphere.
Now imagine the sphere is 1 m in radius, essentially arms length, and is covered with marbles 1 cm across. Then, you would have 314 or so marbles in a line across the equator of the sphere.
Now, make the sphere 10 m in radius, the marbles would be 10 times further, and there would be 3141 or so marbles to make a complete circumference.
In order for them to be more numerous to fill the same field of vision, they have to appear smaller.

Answer 4

When we see an object it is due to the light-rays falling on the retina.The light rays coming from an object at a distance forms a smaller angle on the retina thus the image appears smaller. As we go closer to the object the angle increases,thus the size increases

Answer 5

The primary factor for perceiving the size of an object is the size of the retinal image.

The size of the retinal image depends upon the VISUAL ANGLE that the object occupies.

The nearer the object, the larger is its visual angle.

As the object recedes from us the visual angle shrinks.

The size of the retinal image also shrinks.

And the size of the object appear to shrink.

Answer 6

It's called perspective. The further an object is away from you the smaller it is this is because in order to see the object better the eye automatically adjusts it's focus and your pupils get smaller.

Answer 7

They don't just appear smaller - they ARE smaller. Everything shrinks into eventual non-existence as it recedes from my world. The only exception to this rule is my overdraft, which grows larger the further I push it from my mind.

Merry Christmas from your local Narcissist.

Answer 8

i think your quest answers itself

Answer 9

jus cuz

Answer 10

because..........er