Try Our Apps
Dictionary.com

follow Dictionary.com

The Best Internet Slang

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.
Cite This Source
Examples from the Web for FitzGerald contraction
Historical Examples

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

    Starman's Quest Robert Silverberg

  • 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

Word of the Day

Word Value for FitzGerald

0
0
Scrabble Words With Friends

Nearby words for fitzgerald contraction

The BEST INSULTS are ones your enemies have to look up.