Engine Gas Turbines (Supplementary) USCG Question #90 (Set 3)

When you are using a stroboscope, if the flash speed is faster than the rpm of the object being tested, what effect will this appear to have on the object?

Official USCG Answer & Rule Citation

Correct Answer: Option B — It will appear to rotate backward

When a stroboscope flashes at a frequency higher than the rotational speed of the object, the object appears to move backward. This phenomenon occurs because each subsequent flash captures the object at a position slightly behind its previous location, creating an optical illusion of reverse rotation to the observer.

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