According to the concept of length contraction, what happens to the length of an object as it approaches the speed of light and then slows down, eventually coming to a stop? It is always observed as contracting. It is always observed as the same length. It is observed as expanding and then contracting back to its original length. It is observed as contracting and then expanding back to its original length.

Question

Physics

Allyson

2 October, 15:07

According to the concept of length contraction, what happens to the length of an object as it approaches the speed of light and then slows down, eventually coming to a stop? It is always observed as contracting. It is always observed as the same length. It is observed as expanding and then contracting back to its original length. It is observed as contracting and then expanding back to its original length.

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Pierre Dawson · Answer 1

When an object moves its length contracts in the direction of motion. The faster it moves the shorter it gets in the direction of motion.

The object in this question moves and then stops moving. So it's length first contracts and then expands to its original length when the motion stops.

The speed doesn't have to be anywhere near the speed of light. When the object moves its length contracts no matter how fast or slow it's moving.