Suppose Joe is at rest and Moe is moving at almost the speed of light. Due to length contraction, Joe sees Moe's starship as only five inches long. What does Moe notice about his own starship?
A) It is shorter but no fatter.
B) It is both shorter and fatter.
C) It appears to be normal to him.
D) It is longer and more massive.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the theory of special relativity, the observer who is at rest will observe the moving object as shorter in the direction of motion. However, the moving object itself will not observe any change in its dimensions or appearance. Therefore, Moe will see his starship as appearing normal in size and shape, while Joe will observe it as much shorter in length.

Suppose Joe Is at Rest and Moe Is Moving at Almost