The illusion of a plane not moving in the sky is a common phenomenon. It's caused by a few factors:
Distance and Perspective
When planes are high in the sky, they appear small and far away. This distance makes it difficult to perceive their movement, especially if they are flying at a constant altitude and speed.
Our brains are wired to perceive movement based on changes in size and position. When an object is far away, these changes are subtle and less noticeable, creating the illusion of stillness.
Cloud Cover
If a plane is flying through or above a cloud layer, it can appear to be stationary. The clouds obscure the plane's movement, making it seem like it's not moving at all.
Our Attention
Our attention span is limited. We often focus on other things while observing a plane in the sky, like the scenery or our conversations. This lack of focused attention can make the plane's movement seem less noticeable.
The Illusion of Height
The higher a plane is in the sky, the slower it appears to move. This is because the plane is covering more ground at a constant speed, but from our perspective, it appears to be moving slowly.
Visual References
When there are no clear visual references in the sky, like other planes or clouds, it's harder to judge a plane's movement.
This is similar to being on a train or a car. When you look out the window and see a stationary object, it appears to be moving backward. This is because we perceive movement relative to our surroundings.
In conclusion, the illusion of a plane not moving in the sky is a combination of factors related to distance, perspective, our attention, and visual references. It's a fascinating example of how our brains interpret the world around us.
