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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of FitzGerald contraction¹

First recorded in 1915–20; named after G. F. FitzGerald

Example Sentences

So fast was his action, The Fitzgerald contraction, Reduced his rapier to a disk.

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Finally, everyone loves limericks, and here’s one about the Fitzgerald contraction mentioned in problem 2.

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The Fitzgerald Contraction does funny things.

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But because of the Fitzgerald Contraction, a man who shipped out to space could never live a normal life on Earth again.

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The Fitzgerald Contraction does funny things, Alan repeated to himself, as he methodically chewed his way through the rest of his meal and got on line to bring the dishes to the yawning hopper that would carry them down to the molecular cleansers.

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