What phenomenon occurs when an unfamiliar object is perceived to be the same size as a familiar object?

The phenomenon where an unfamiliar object is perceived to be the same size as a familiar object is known as Size-Distance Illusions. This illusion occurs due to the brain's reliance on contextual cues and distance perception when determining the size of objects. When a person sees an object in relation to other known sizes or familiar objects, their perception of its size can be misjudged, leading to the illusion.

For instance, if you see a familiar object, like a car, and then view an unfamiliar object that is further away, your brain might interpret that unfamiliar object as being the same size as the car because it incorporates the distance into its size judgment. This blending of size perception with distance cues makes it particularly relevant in situations such as nighttime viewing with night vision goggles, where depth perception can be altered.

Understanding this concept is critical, especially in fields that involve precision tasks under limited visibility, like in night operations, where misjudging the size of objects can impact decision-making and safety.