Link: Someone please explain the railroad track illusion to me.

[Mr. Potter]

http://definition.org/blog/amazing-optical-illusions-will-break-brain/5/

 

[91Joe95]

Math, angles, the usual.

 

[canuckhal]

Not sure what you mean. One piece looks longer than the other, but each is actually the same size.

 

[NittPicker]

If the pieces were laid side-by-side with the midpoints of the curves lined up, the pieces would look the same. However, since they are lined up along the left edge, the top one seems smaller since the inside arc of the curve is shorter than the outside arc.

 

[The Spin Meister]

http://definition.org/blog/amazing-optical-illusions-will-break-brain/5/

Two issues; the top one is lined along the left edge so the shorter inside rail lines up with longer outside rail of other piece. Makes it look shorter.

The other is called keystoning. Take a pic of a tall building from the ground and the building shrinks as it goes up. The same here. These two pieces were photographed not from directly above but an angle, causing keystoning, making upper piece look smaller.

 

[Mr. Potter]

Two issues; the top one is lined along the left edge so the shorter inside rail lines up with longer outside rail of other piece. Make sit look shorter.

The other is called keystoning. Take a pic of a tall building from the ground and the building shrinks as it goes up. The same here. These two pieces were photographed not from directly above but an angle, causing keystoning, making upper piece look smaller.

Thanks Brother