Cars
Fact-checked

At WikiMotors, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

Why do Spinning Rims Appear to be Rotating Backward?

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

Many people notice that the spinning rims of a car shown in a commercial or film appear to spin backward even though the car is clearly moving forwards. It is especially noticeable when the car is just beginning to speed up or slow down. During an extended shot of the car driving down an open highway, its spinning rims may even appear to stand still and then rotate backward. There are actually several different optical illusions at work which cause spinning rims to appear to spin in reverse.

There is a fundamental difference between real motion and the sort of animation used to create the illusion of motion on film or video. When a real car's wheels start to move forward, our eyes can usually follow the motion of individual spokes until the car reaches a certain speed and they become blurred. After that, our eyes can only catch glimpses of certain spokes if they are illuminated by an outside light source. This provides our brain with enough information to recognize the forward motion of real spinning rims.

Woman with hand on her hip
Woman with hand on her hip

Animation, however, works on a different principle. The actual car's motion is only represented by a series of still images moving at 24 or possibly 30 frames a second. Our eyes see the same spinning rims, but now the information is entering the brain at a different rate. If an individual spoke in a series of animated images appears in a different position, the brain interprets it as moving in a certain direction. If a spoke appears lower in subsequent frames, it will appear to move backward in our mind's eye. Even if the actual wheel is clearly moving forward, the individual spokes of the spinning rim may appear to move in reverse.

Besides the brain's interpretation of the moving spokes, our eyes can be fooled by an optical illusion called the stroboscopic effect. A stroboscope is a device which can be calibrated to send out pulses of light at a designated rate per second. If a stroboscope's light is focused on a fast moving object, such as a car's spinning rim, individual elements of that object could appear to stand still, move forward or move backward. In a car commercial, an outside light source such as the sun or movie lamps could create a stroboscopic effect as individual spokes are illuminated. Even though the actual tires are clearly moving forward, the stroboscopic effect can create an illusion of backward motion or even a complete standstill, much like dancers can appear motionless when illuminated by a strobe light.

When the information is limited, the brain often makes assumptions based on what it knows. In the case of spinning rims, the relative position of the individual spokes and the light source which makes them visible can combine to create an optical illusion of backward motion.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular WikiMotors contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular WikiMotors contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon28376

The stop motion can be observed without being filmed. The rims will only have stop motion if there is the stroboscope effect. This cannot happen during daylight as the sun's light is constant. At night, however, when the street is lit by streetlights flickering on and off 60 times per second (AC current is 60 Hz) then the effect can be observed.

anon28348

there is no illusion. if in real time, on film, it is the film speed that is constant and the wheel speed increasing or decreasing. as the spokes reach the same speed as the camera shutter the wheel appears to be stopped and as the wheel goes faster or slower it appears to slow down or speed up.

pandey1234

How can stroboscopic effect be used as an important tool in prevention of road traffic accidents?

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Woman with hand on her hip
      Woman with hand on her hip