Fig. 1 shows a photographer's image of two identical lamps placed at different points between converging railway tracks. The lamp nearer the narrow end of t...
Question 1 Report
Fig. 1 shows a photographer's image of two identical lamps placed at different points between converging railway tracks. The lamp nearer the narrow end of the tracks looks smaller in the photograph. This figure was shown to a study group before a discussion of depth perception.
(a) Which monocular depth cue is shown by the tracks? [1]
(b) Explain why the more distant lamp is perceived as farther away. [3]
(c) Use the figure to explain why the lamp may be judged as larger than it looks on the retina. [2]
(d) Outline what is meant by size constancy. [2]
Answer Details
(a) Linear perspective [1] (b) Parallel tracks appear to converge with distance [1]; the far lamp is placed where the tracks are closer together [1]; the brain uses this information as a cue that it is farther away [1]. (c) Its retinal image appears smaller [1]; but the brain applies the distance cue and compensates, so it is perceived as larger / its usual size [1]. (d) Perceiving an object as having a stable size [1]; even when distance changes the size of its retinal image [1].
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