1/16th of a second
Explanation
Persistence of vision is the optical phenomenon where the impression of an image remains on the retina of the human eye for a brief interval even after the visual stimulus has ceased. This physiological characteristic is the fundamental principle enabling the perception of motion in cinematography and animation.
According to standard general science principles, the duration for which an image persists on the retina is approximately 1/16th of a second. Because of this retention, if a sequence of still images is flashed before the eye at a rate faster than 16 per second (standard films use 24 frames per second), the brain integrates them into a continuous moving picture rather than seeing them as separate static images.
Key Takeaway: The impression of an image persists on the human retina for about 1/16th of a second, which allows for the illusion of continuity in motion pictures.