Perception of Space

[Bazile]

Why is it that , for example , if you are inside a bus or a building - and look at the width or the length, it appears bigger than if you stand outside and look at the width and the length ?

Or is it just to me that this appears to be so ?

[mibn2cweus]

The closer you are to what you are looking at the larger it appears.

distance perspective

Picture

[Bazile]

I understand the examples you have given for long distances - but the perception I mean is the one you get looking at the width / length standing inside , and say a couple of feet away, outside .

Or say , you stand on the pavement and look at the width of the front of a house from one side to the other - the perception you then get if you go inside and look from one side wall to the other is that it appears wider once you are inside .

You often hear people say ( for example when viewing a property ) that it appears larger inside than it looks from the outside .
This is the perception I mean

[minesapint]

Haven't you ever watched Dr Who?

It's all down to the TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space) effect.

[gumboot]

Great suggestion minesapint.

Maybe this is related to another mystery that puzzled me for years.

When I look down my body to my feet, I appear to be about of average proportions around the abdomen with maybe a slightly well-fed look.

Yet, when I look at myself in the mirror, I can't understand who that bloke is with a massive beer-belly that's staring back at me.

Anyone know where I can find Dr Who?

[mibn2cweus]

When outside the bus the average distance to various points of the bus must be at least twice as far away as the average distance when inside. The discrepancy of apparent size is a perceptual illusion due to distance and convergence and divergence of linier perspective.
Compare convergence and divergence of lines between an inside corner and an outside corner from the same distance. The illusion is apparent even in the two dimensional representation of a photograph.

However if you are not satisfied with this answer (nor am I with my ability to explain it) may I suggest a fancier explanation . . .

. . . look into Oculomotor Micropsia/Macropsia

[rojash]

mibn2cweus, I think that's the first time you've ever posted an answer that I couldn't make head or tail of! Brilliant link, though :-)

[mibn2cweus]

rohash, . . . only the first? Either your comprehension abilities are truly astounding or you have a very forgiving memory.

My apologies to all for my unique literary style. As always, comments and criticisms are welcome and often rightfully deserved.