Question

When you are cycling past buildings, they look like they are moving even though they aren't. They always seem to move in the _______ direction to the direction you're moving?

1) opposite
2) same
3) random
4) perpendicular

Answer 1

When cycling past buildings, they appear to move in the opposite direction to your movement due to relative motion and the chosen frame of reference.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you are cycling past buildings, they appear to be moving in the opposite direction to the direction you're moving. This phenomenon is due to the motion perception while cycling and is an example of relative motion. You're choosing a frame of reference from the cyclist's point of view. If the motion of the cyclist is regarded as the frame of reference, then stationary objects like buildings appear to be moving in the opposite direction. Similarly, if you stand on a sidewalk and observe a bicyclist passing by, from the bicyclist's frame of reference, you would seem to be moving in the direction opposite to the bicyclist's motion.