In some buildings, there are long, dimly lit corridors with windows to the

  • Thread starter Thread starter David D
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David D

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outdoors only at each end......? In such corridors, the lighting makes it difficult to identify someone approaching you or indeed whether they are approaching or retreating. Why?
 
If it is daytime, then the person that you are looking at is BACK LIT.

Back lighting makes it difficult to make out any detail and all you can really see is a silhouette. The silhouette of an advancing and retreating person looks the same. If there are no side doors along the corridor, then there are no clear markings to assist you in depth perception. Without clear depth perception it is difficult to tell if a person is advancing, or retreating.

Sometimes the only assistance that physics will give you is the standing wave effect in a closed pipe...
As the person walks does the sound of the footsteps increase in pitch or decrease?
(Doesn't work with a carpeted floor!)
 
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