Looking out the window while seated on a stationary train, Rebecca sees another stationary train on the next track. One of the trains begins to move, and Rebecca is not sure whether her train is moving or if the other train is moving. What phenomenon is responsible for this confusion?
A) induced motion
B) apparent movement
C) motion parallax
D) the correspondence problem

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Induced motion is the phenomenon responsible for Rebecca's confusion. It occurs when the motion of one object (in this case, the other train) causes a stationary object (Rebecca's train) to appear as if it is moving. This is because the visual system sometimes has difficulty determining which object is in motion when one object's movement is viewed in relation to another stationary object.

Looking Out the Window While Seated on a Stationary Train