Moderate

An observer shoots parallel to a meter stick at very high (relativistic) speed and finds that the length of meter stick is________________?

Correct answer: B. less than one meter

  • A. greater than one meter
  • B. less than one meter
  • C. one meter
  • D. a foolish question

Explanation

Length contraction gives L = L0 sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2), so an object moving rapidly relative to the observer is measured shorter than its proper length of 1 m. The meter stick's own rest-frame measurement remains 1 m, but the moving observer measures less than 1 m. Students may choose c by overlooking that length depends on the frame of reference.

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