A highly-technical uber-scientific question

[jtusa]

I'm at work, and bored. And to get away from the computer while I'm at work I'll go downstairs and walk around outside and then I'll go up to the top floor and look out the window at the city.

As I was looking out the window I thought of something. When you're looking out a window, are your eyes focused up close at the glass or do they focus on the far object outside the window? Since glass just reflects the light from outside through the glass are your eyes focused on the glass?

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

Originally posted by: jtusa4
I'm at work, and bored. And to get away from the computer while I'm at work I'll go downstairs and walk around outside and then I'll go up to the top floor and look out the window at the city.

As I was looking out the window I thought of something. When you're looking out a window, are your eyes focused up close at the glass or do they focus on the far object outside the window? Since glass just reflects the light from outside through the glass are your eyes focused on the glass?

no. they are focused on whatever you are looking at outside. it's basic optics from physics e&m class. the focal point is what you are focusing on, and the focal point is outside in that case.

" A highly-technical uber-scientific question"
this is why there is a highly technical forum btw

 

[KingNothing]

Your eyes are focused on the far object. If the glass is dirty you can easily focus on the glass and look at a dirty spot instead.

 

[jst0ney]

On the object not the glass. If you watch a car drive away your focal point changes. If it stayed the same (and focused just on the glass), the car would get blurry.

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer

Originally posted by: jtusa4
I'm at work, and bored. And to get away from the computer while I'm at work I'll go downstairs and walk around outside and then I'll go up to the top floor and look out the window at the city.

As I was looking out the window I thought of something. When you're looking out a window, are your eyes focused up close at the glass or do they focus on the far object outside the window? Since glass just reflects the light from outside through the glass are your eyes focused on the glass?

no. they are focused on whatever you are looking at outside. it's basic optics from physics e&m class. the focal point is what you are focusing on, and the focal point is outside in that case.

" A highly-technical uber-scientific question"
this is why there is a highly technical forum btw

Never took physics and it's not an uber-scientific question that's why it wasn't posted there.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Glass actually has a small refraction index, so your eyes are focused on a spot not quite where the object actually is. Its like when you look at something underwater, it appears to be at a much different spot than where it actually is.

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Glass actually has a small refraction index, so your eyes are focused on a spot not quite where the object actually is. Its like when you look at something underwater, it appears to be at a much different spot than where it actually is.

That makes sense.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Glass actually has a small refraction index, so your eyes are focused on a spot not quite where the object actually is. Its like when you look at something underwater, it appears to be at a much different spot than where it actually is.

This is right. Your eyes are focused on where the object appears to be.

 

[skim milk]

yea you must be really bored

 

[DaFinn]

...still waiting for the "highly-technical uber-scientific question"

 

[Calin]

Even if you look at the reflection of an object (in a glass or mirror), your eyes are not focused on the mirror or glass

Calin