Unable to see
A.P.
Why are we not able to see very fast moving objects like a bullet fired from a gun?
G. Abraham
Kochi
For an object to be seen clearly it has to be focused on the centre of the retina by the focusing mechanism of the eye.
If the object is moving it has to be tracked and kept focused on the centre of the retina. Tracking is done by the external muscles of the eye and by moving the head with the help of the neck muscles.
A moving bullet is both too small to be focused accurately by the eye as well as the extreme speed makes it impossible for the tracking mechanism of the eye to track it.
By virtue of the small size and high speed the human eye cannot see a speeding bullet.
If on the other hand an object that is several times bigger and further away can be seen and tracked by the human eye. [eg] a jet flying at two or even three times the speed of sound can be focused and tracked by the human eye.
DR. ARULMOZHI VARMAN
UMA EYE CLINIC, CHENNAI
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