FitzGerald contraction

nounPhysics.

the hypothesis that a moving body exhibits a contraction in the direction of motion when its velocity is close to the speed of light.

Origin of FitzGerald contraction

¹

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

Also called Fitz·Ger·ald-Lo·rentz contrac·tion [fits-jer-uhld lawr-ents, -lohr-], /fɪtsˈdʒɛr əld ˈlɔr ɛnts, -ˈloʊr-/, Lorentz-FitzGerald contraction, Lorentz contraction, length contraction .

Words Nearby FitzGerald contraction

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use FitzGerald contraction in a sentence

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

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