gen-define-shutter-speed-and-motion-blur-and-give-one-short-work-1d63

Define shutter speed and motion blur and give one short worked example.

# Shutter Speed and Motion Blur **Shutter Speed** is the length of time a camera's sensor is exposed to light, measured in seconds or fractions of a second (e.g., 1/1000s, 1/60s, 2s). **Motion Blur** is the streaking or blurring of moving objects in a photograph, caused by subject movement during the exposure time. ## Relationship - **Fast shutter speed** (1/500s or faster) = freezes motion, minimal blur - **Slow shutter speed** (1/30s or slower) = captures motion, creates blur ## Worked Example **Scenario:** Photographing a car moving at 60 mph (26.8 m/s) **With 1/2000s shutter speed:** - Distance traveled during exposure = 26.8 m/s × 0.0005s = **0.013 m (1.3 cm)** - Result: Car appears sharp and frozen **With 1/30s shutter speed:** - Distance traveled during exposure = 26.8 m/s × 0.033s = **0.89 m (89 cm)** - Result: Car is heavily blurred, showing motion streaks This demonstrates why sports photographers use fast shutter speeds (to freeze action), while landscape photographers might use slow speeds with waterfalls (to create silky blur effects).