The length of a spaceship is 14 m when it is at rest. If the spaceship travels by you with a speed of 0.80c, what length does it appear to you?
A)6.3 m
B)8.4 m
C)18 m
D)20 m
E)22 m

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The length contraction formula is L = L0 * sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2), where L0 is the rest length, v is the velocity, and c is the speed of light. Plugging in the values: L = 14 * sqrt(1 - (0.80)^2) = 14 * sqrt(0.36) = 14 * 0.6 = 8.4 m.

The Length of a Spaceship Is 14 M When It