Stroboscopic movement (/stroʊbəˈskɒpɪk/ /ˈmuːvmənt/) is a visual illusion that occurs when a fast-moving object appears still or appears to move in an abnormal manner due to the rapid succession of visual stimuli. The spelling of stroboscopic is based on the word "strobe," which refers to a flashing light source used to create the illusion. The word derives from the Greek word "strobos," which means "whirlwind," and "skopein," which means "to look at." Hence, stroboscopic movement means "looking at a moving object through a flashing light."
Stroboscopic movement refers to a visual perception phenomenon where images appear to move or change in a series of discrete positions, although in reality they are stationary or undergoing a continuous motion. This effect is achieved through the use of rapid and repetitive light or image stimulation. The term "stroboscopic" is derived from "stroboscope," which is an instrument that produces a series of brief and intense flashes of light.
In stroboscopic movement, the brain interprets the separate images or stages of motion as a single moving object or continuous sequence. This perceptual illusion is a result of the brain's persistence of vision, where the retained image from each flash overlaps with subsequent images, giving the impression of movement.
Stroboscopic movement is commonly observed in a variety of applications. For example, in cinematography, the illusion of motion is created by displaying a rapid sequence of frames that are projected onto a screen. Similarly, stroboscopic effects are utilized in the context of LED or fluorescent lighting to create the perception of motion in objects that are actually stationary.
This visual phenomenon is not limited to motion perception alone, as stroboscopic movement can also affect the interpretation of other visual properties, such as size, shape, or color. It is widely used in various fields, including entertainment, scientific research, and industrial applications, to study and manipulate motion perception for artistic, diagnostic, or practical purposes.
The word "stroboscopic" is derived from the Greek words "strobos" meaning "whirling" or "spinning", and "skopein" meaning "to look at" or "to see".
"Movement" on the other hand, originates from the Latin word "movimentum" which means "motion" or "act of moving".
Therefore, the term "stroboscopic movement" combines the Greek and Latin roots to describe a visual phenomenon where an object appears to be moving due to rapid intermittent illumination or flashing lights.