When a sparkler is twirled rapidly, people perceive a circle of light.This occurs because
A) the trail you see is caused by sparks left behind from the sparkler.
B) due to its high intensity, we see the light from the sparkler for about a second after it goes out.
C) the length of iconic memory (the persistence of vision) is about one-third of a second.
D) Gestalt principles work to complete the circle in our minds.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The persistence of vision, or iconic memory, is the phenomenon whereby visual information persists in the brain for a brief period after the stimulus has ended. The length of iconic memory is about one-third of a second, which is why when a sparkler is twirled rapidly, our brain perceives a circle of light instead of separate sparks.

When a Sparkler Is Twirled Rapidly, People Perceive a Circle