Why do cars tires look like they're turning backwards even when they're going forward?

Question

And no I don't mean cars with the spinners on them. I'm talking about if you look at a car n motion instead of forward the wheels look as if they're going back. anyone know why?

Answer 1

It's an optical illusion. A lot of it has to do with the lighting and how it reflects from the shiny rims.

If you'll notice, it's NOT JUST ON CARS. You will also encounter the same phenomena on regular house-fans. Look at the blades of the fan for a long time and you will see the exact same illusion.

An optometrist can probably go into more technical detail.

Answer 2

It's not common for this to happen unless the wheel in question is being viewed on film. A movie camera records images at 24 frames per second. When we see these separate images run together, our brains perceive these images as moving, in an illusion known as persistence of vision. (The same principle is at work when you see one of those flip-book cartoons.)

For stuff like walking, galloping horses, etc., no problem. Filmed images appear to move normally. But wheels move much faster than other objects, often faster than 24 times per second. Picture a point on the wheel taking more than one revolution when the first picture is taken, starting at the 12 o'clock position, going around several times clockwise to the 11 o'clock for the second picture, to the 10 'clock position for the third, and so on. Run those pictures together, and it looks like the wheel is moving backward instead of forward. And if the wheel in question is being filmed at 24 frames per second, and turning exactly once for every frame, it'll look like it's not even moving at all.

Now, I can hear you insisting that you've seen this in real life, and I'm sure you have. It was probably at night under streetlights, which flicker dozens of times per second just as a filmed image does, creating the same illusion.

What I can't figure out is why I see it on the interstate in broad daylight. I figure it's because of the vibrations in the car screwing with my eyes or something, but I could be wrong.

Answer 3

Human eye is capable of fetching 24 frames per second. At certain speed, it looks like the wheel is spinning backwards. This effect is easily duplicated in fluorescent light because - unlike conventional bulbs - it produces flashes @ 60 HZ (60 flashes per second, equal to standard power frequency).

Answer 4

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Answer 5

It is just an "illusion" if you will, they are not really going backwards, but they look as if they are, the reason is because they are spinning so fast that they appear to be going backwards, but in reality they are going fowards.

Answer 6

Your eyes only take 16 pictures per second. That can create the illusion.

Answer 7

all to do with speed you see the effect better on t.v the camera and film can only record to certain speed same with eyes .so it seem its slowly turning backwards funny ain it?

Answer 8

lots of things do this and don't know why but if you watch you can se the point where they start to do that.