Title: 3 Length Contraction
Course: Relativity > Section: Module 7: 3 Length Contraction

3. Length Contraction

Explanation

Length contraction occurs when an object is moving close to the speed of light relative to an observer. The length of the object appears shorter in the direction of motion compared to its length when at rest.

Example

A spaceship traveling at high speed past a stationary observer will appear shorter than its actual length when at rest. If the spaceship is 100 meters long at rest, it might only appear to be 80 meters long to the observer, depending on its velocity.

4. Mass-Energy Equivalence