A meter stick is aligned parallel to the direction of its motion. The length of the stick, as measured by a stationary observer when it is moving at 0.60 c, is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The length contraction formula in special relativity is $L = L_0\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}$, where $L_0$ is the rest length (1.0 m in this case), $v$ is the velocity of the object (0.60c), and $c$ is the speed of light. Plugging in the values, we get $L = 1.0\sqrt{1 - (0.60)^2} = 1.0\sqrt{1 - 0.36} = 1.0\sqrt{0.64} = 0.8$ meters.

A Meter Stick Is Aligned Parallel to the Direction of Its