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FitzGerald contraction

noun, Physics.
1.
the hypothesis that a moving body exhibits a contraction in the direction of motion when its velocity is close to the speed of light.
Also called FitzGerald-Lorentz contraction
[fits-jer-uh ld lawr-ents, -lohr-] /fɪtsˈdʒɛr əld ˈlɔr ɛnts, -ˈloʊr-/ (Show IPA), Lorentz-FitzGerald contraction, Lorentz contraction, length contraction.
Origin of FitzGerald contraction
1915-1920
First recorded in 1915-20; named after G. F. FitzGerald
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2017.
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Examples from the Web for FitzGerald contraction
Historical Examples

  • But the FitzGerald contraction had telescoped those nine years into just a few months, for the people of the Valhalla.

    Starman's Quest Robert Silverberg

  • Of course, the Crew had experienced only about four weeks, thanks to the FitzGerald contraction.

    Starman's Quest Robert Silverberg

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