The study on the "power" perception in collision event

Abstract

This study examined "power" perception of a collision event in which an object A hit an object B. The movement of object B was occluded after the collision. The relative speeds, the relative weights, and the distances moved by the object B, were estimated in three sessions by the participants. The data of each participant was analysed by using multiple linear regression analysis. The objective variable was the estimated distance moved by object B. The most effective explanatory variable of all of the participants was the estimated velocity of object B. This result indicates that "power" perception of a collision event is determined by the estimated speed of object B after the collision, in accordance with Michotte's (1963) theory of "the radius of action". Two kinds of individual differences were also observed. One difference was the range of estimated distance of movement. The other was the degree of the effect of the estimated velocity of object B and the effects of other explanatory variables. These individual differences are items for further study.