
Concept explainers
The diagram at right illustrates what an observer sees when looking at two boxes on a large table.
From the diagram alone:
• is it possible to determine which box is closer to the observer?
• is it possible to determine which box appears wider to the observer?
• is it possible to determine which box actually is wider?
Discuss your reasoning with your partners.

To determine whether the two boxes closer and wider.
Answer to Problem 1aT
Yes, it is possible to determine whether the boxes are closer and wider. Box A is closer to the observer than B. And box B is wider than A.
Explanation of Solution
Introduction:
- When an object is closer it looks brighter as the light reflected from the object travel lesser path before it enters into the eye. Whereas the light reflected from the object placed travels greater distance, thus the intensity of light entering into eyes is less.
- Also, objects at greater distance appear to be smaller than the ones kept near. For example, Sun is 100 times bigger than Earth and still appears smaller.
- Figure 1: As the Box A is brighter compared to the box Bi, t is closer to the observer. Box A is closer as it looks brighter due to the less pathtraveled by the light reflected from the Box A before it reaches the observer. On the other hand, the light reflected from the Box B travels greater distance, thus the intensity of light reaching the observer is less and consequently appears darker.
Figure 1: Two boxes (A) and (B)
- As it is clear from the Figure 1, box A looks wider compared to box B.
- Yes, it is possible to determine the which box is actually wider by comparing the intensity of light compared to the source light. As the intensity of light decreases inversely to the square of the distance. The contrast between the two reflected light from the two boxes will determine the distance and from the distance one can determine how the size of the object decreases with the distance.
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