Lorentz Contraction: consider a stationary observer on Earth, viewing a rocket that is traveling at constant velocity v. On the rocket there is a
2 m
tall astronaut (as measured by the astronaut in her own reference frame). What is the height of the astronaut, as measured by the stationary observer, in the following situations: a) the astronaut lies down so that her height is measured parallel to the direction of rocket motion, and
v=0.5×c
. b) the astronaut lies down so that her height is measured parallel to the direction of rocket motion, and
v=0.99×c
. c) the astronaut stands up so that her height is measured perpendicular to the direction of rocket motion, and
v=0.99×c