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A meterstick moves toward you at speed 0.60c. What length do you measure for the meterstick?

1 Answer

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-- IF the meter stick is oriented perpendicular to the direction from
it to you, then it appears 1 meter long to you, but very very skinny.
The Lorentz contraction only applies in the direction of motion.

-- If the length of the meter stick is pointing toward you, then . . .

L = L₀ √ (1 - v²/c²)

= √ (1 - 0.36)

= √ (0.64) = 0.8 meter .
User Ncerezo
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