Maybe someone can help me explain this. I have twinkle light (both the same size) on my Christmas tree and running up a pole in my house. I came out the other night when they were both on without my glasses (I'm nearsighted). The lights always look bigger when I don't have my glasses--they look like sort of like perfectly round colored snowflakes. Well, I was standing about 5 feet from the tree and 10 feet from the pole. The circles of light on the poll, from my vantage point, looked about golf ball size...the circles on the tree, which was nearer to me, looked about dime size. I tested this out--when I changed positions and got closer to the pole the sizes reversed. Whenever I got closer to the lights they got smaller...when I stepped away from them they got bigger. With my glasses on they looked the same size.
Anyone have an explaination for this? I'm really curious why the lights looked bigger when I was further away.
2006-12-26 16:19:40 · 5 answers · asked by Ecaria 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I guess I'm looking for a really scientific answer...like what is happening in my eye that makes the light appear larger when nearsighted, and then makes that light grow when I move away from it and shrink when I move closer. Maybe a link to some place that would show a diagram or something.
2006-12-26 16:48:18 · update #1
As you approached the lights, since you are near-sighted, you were steadily better able to see the true size of the lights. The lights came into focus just as you can clearly see the palm of your hand the closer and closer you bring your hand toward your eyes.
2006-12-26 16:25:32 · answer #1 · answered by HoneyBunny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your eyes dont focus as well when your farther away from something. that is the effect of your nearsightedness. try it with a magnifying glass. hold it up close to something, then slowly pull it farther back. the object appears to get bigger before going out of focus.
2006-12-27 00:29:07 · answer #2 · answered by soviet_burrito 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you are seeing is an out of focusw circle. As you get farther away the out of focus circle increases in size- not in reality, but in your perception. It is your eyes.
2006-12-27 00:29:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's your eyes... You're near sighted. The lights appear indistinct and fuzzy, so you're seeing a halo effect which makes them appear larger.
2006-12-27 00:23:56 · answer #4 · answered by I hate friggin' crybabies 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is because u were out of focus i know im leagley blind trust me i do the same thing wait till u get going in a car at night! it also seems longer on trips at night all because of beintg out of focus.
2006-12-27 00:25:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋