Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Apparent Weight and the Earth's Rotation01:28

Apparent Weight and the Earth's Rotation

4.0K
Since all objects on the Earth's surface move through a circle every 24 hours, there must be a net centripetal force on each object, directed towards the center of that circle. The points of the north and south poles are the only exception to this rule.
For an object on the Earth's equator, the net centripetal force that accounts for its rotation is the Earth's pull towards its center, or the weight minus the normal force that prevents it from piercing into the Earth's surface....
4.0K
Apparent Weight01:09

Apparent Weight

9.6K
True weight is the measure of the gravitational force acting on an object. However, if the object accelerates, its measured weight is different from its true weight. Similar observations can be made when the object is submerged in water. An object's weight in water is its apparent weight, which is equal to the difference between its true weight and the buoyant forces.
Consider a person standing on a bathroom scale inside an elevator. If the scale is accurate at rest, its reading equals the...
9.6K
Weighted Mean00:57

Weighted Mean

6.1K
While taking the arithmetic, geometric, or harmonic mean of a sample data set, equal importance is assigned to all the data points. However, all the values may not always be equally important in some data sets. An intrinsic bias might make it more important to give more weightage to specific values over others.
For example, consider the number of goals scored in the matches of a tournament. While computing the average number of goals scored in the tournament, it may be more important to...
6.1K
Bending of Members Made of Several Materials01:11

Bending of Members Made of Several Materials

495
In analyzing a structural member composed of two different materials with identical cross-sectional areas, it is crucial to understand how their distinct elastic properties affect the member's response under load. The analysis involves assessing stress and strain distributions using the transformed section concept, which accounts for variations in material properties.
Hooke's Law determines stress in each material, stating that stress is proportional to strain but varies due to each material's...
495
Density and Archimedes' Principle01:05

Density and Archimedes' Principle

8.4K
When a lump of clay is dropped into water, it sinks. But if the same lump of clay is molded into the shape of a boat, it starts to float. Because of its shape, the clay boat displaces more water than the lump and experiences a greater buoyant force, even though its mass is the same. The same holds true for steel ships. The average density of an object majorly determines if the object will float. If an object's average density is less than that of the surrounding fluid, it will float. The...
8.4K
Shape and Texture of Coarse Aggregate01:25

Shape and Texture of Coarse Aggregate

555
Aggregate shape is classified based on the relative sharpness or roundness of the edges and corners. This classification includes categories like rounded, angular, elongated, and flaky, each with specific characteristics. Rounded aggregates, fully shaped by attrition, are typical of river or seashore gravel, while angular aggregates, such as crushed rock, have well-defined edges. Aggregates that are elongated and flaky are less desirable, as they can reduce the workability and strength of...
555

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Connecting the dots - recognition of artificial and natural shapes relies on representing points of high information.

Vision research·2026
Same author

Visual Perception of 3D Shape: From Local 2D Image Measurements to 3D Surface Properties.

Annual review of vision science·2026
Same author

Visual cues and strategies for perceiving elasticity.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same author

Human gloss perception reproduced by tiny neural networks.

Nature human behaviour·2026
Same author

Enhanced memory colour in peripheral vision: A possible compensation for chromatic loss.

Vision research·2026
Same author

No free lunch with the binding problem.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 19, 2025

Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation
08:21

Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation

Published on: November 22, 2016

10.0K

Softness and weight from shape: Material properties inferred from local shape features.

Filipp Schmidt1,1, Roland W Fleming1,1, Matteo Valsecchi1,1

  • 1.

Journal of Vision
|June 4, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Local object shape features significantly influence perceptions of softness and weight. These shape cues, rather than semantic associations, are crucial for estimating material properties like hardness and heaviness.

More Related Videos

Characterizing Dissipative Elastic Metamaterials Produced by Additive Manufacturing
09:39

Characterizing Dissipative Elastic Metamaterials Produced by Additive Manufacturing

Published on: June 28, 2024

1.4K
Environmental Dynamic Mechanical Analysis to Predict the Softening Behavior of Neural Implants
06:59

Environmental Dynamic Mechanical Analysis to Predict the Softening Behavior of Neural Implants

Published on: March 1, 2019

8.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 19, 2025

Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation
08:21

Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation

Published on: November 22, 2016

10.0K
Characterizing Dissipative Elastic Metamaterials Produced by Additive Manufacturing
09:39

Characterizing Dissipative Elastic Metamaterials Produced by Additive Manufacturing

Published on: June 28, 2024

1.4K
Environmental Dynamic Mechanical Analysis to Predict the Softening Behavior of Neural Implants
06:59

Environmental Dynamic Mechanical Analysis to Predict the Softening Behavior of Neural Implants

Published on: March 1, 2019

8.2K

Area of Science:

  • Visual perception
  • Material science
  • Cognitive psychology

Background:

  • Object shape is a key factor in identifying materials and their properties.
  • Shape perception operates at micro, meso, and macro scales, influencing material judgments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific role of local shape features in perceiving material properties, specifically softness and weight.
  • To determine if shape-based material perception relies on learned heuristics or semantic associations.

Main Methods:

  • Creation of novel visual stimuli with systematically varied local surface shape features.
  • Participant ratings of perceived softness and weight for these stimuli.
  • Analysis of semantic associations between stimuli and real-world objects/materials.

Main Results:

  • Local shape features demonstrably impact softness and weight perception, with effects varying by feature type, amplitude, and frequency.
  • Increasing spike features (number, pointedness) led to perceptions of increased hardness and weight.
  • Judgments of softness and weight were not solely based on semantic associations but directly linked to surface shape characteristics.

Conclusions:

  • Local shape features are critical determinants of perceived material properties like softness and weight.
  • Perception of material properties from shape relies on learned heuristics linking surface features to physical characteristics.
  • Future research on shape and material perception must account for the influence of local shape features.