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The visual perception of relative mass from object collisions
James T Todd1,2, J Farley Norman3,4
1Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Journal of Vision
|February 2, 2026
Summary
Observers accurately judge object mass in animations. This study suggests judgments rely on observable post-collision speeds, not an internal physics model, simplifying our understanding of visual perception.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Visual perception
- Physics perception
Background:
- Observers can reliably judge the relative mass of colliding objects in animated displays.
- Existing theories propose judgments are based on either an internal Newtonian dynamics model or optical properties correlated with mass.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the basis of relative mass judgments in animated collisions.
- To reanalyze existing data and replicate previous findings to clarify the underlying mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Reanalysis of data from three prior studies (Mitko & Fischer, 2023; Sanborn et al., 2013; Todd & Warren, 1982).
- Replication of a study by Hamrick et al. (2016).
Main Results:
- Observer judgments of relative mass are strongly correlated with post-collision optical velocities.
- The data do not necessitate an internal model of Newtonian dynamics to explain the judgments.
Conclusions:
- Judgments of relative mass in animated collisions are primarily based on observable optical information, specifically post-collision velocities.
- This finding challenges theories relying on implicit physics models and supports explanations based on directly perceivable cues.
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