Re: A cultural illusion

[jriley@lib.drury.edu (Jim Riley)]

We have to be careful drawing (no pun intended) conlcusions about cartoons
because much of what one sees is very culturally influenced.  Standard
cartoon icons in one culture are frequently not understood in another.  

Having said that my guess is that the cartoonist has anthropomorphised (sp?)
the auto.  If I want to rush forward I must first lean forward.  If I want
to skid to a stop I must lean backward to keep from falling on my face.
Thus the forward leaning and backward leaning ovals on the tires.

> All this talk about ellipses has made me remember another
> "phenomenon" which has a physical explanation. In cartoons
> speeding automobiles are frequently portrayed as having
> oval, forward-leaning wheels, and hard-braking autos as
> having oval wheels leaning backwards. Has it occurred to
> anyone else in the group why this should be? Hint: it has
> nothing to do with relativity. I think I know the answer,
> and it is a useful piece of technical information to use
> in courses where geometrical optics is taught. It will
> make your students think, just as I'm asking you to do now.
>
> I'll present my solution if there is sufficient interest.
>
> Leigh
Jim Riley, Department of Physics
Drury College
Springfield, MO 65802
e-mail: jriley@lib.drury.edu
Phone:  (407) 873 7233