Question

While riding on a train, Kinari notices that the trees and telephone poles close to the tracks seem to flash by, while the buildings, trees, and mountains off in the distance seem to move by more slowly. The phenomenon is called __________.

a. Retinal disparity
b. Motion parallax
c. Accommodation
d. Perceptual constancy

Answer 1

Kinari is observing the phenomenon of motion parallax, where closer objects appear to move faster than distant ones as she moves on the train, allowing her brain to perceive depth.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phenomenon Kinari notices, where objects closer to the train seem to flash by quickly while those farther away move slowly, is called motion parallax. This effect occurs because objects that are closer to an observer move across the visual field faster than objects that are at a distance when the observer is in motion. Moreover, motion parallax is a monocular cue which means it only requires one eye to provide depth perception information. This helps the brain determine the relative distance of objects based on the speed across the visual field, allowing for a 3-D perception from a moving 2-D view. To answer the question directly, Kinari is experiencing motion parallax.