A spacecraft with the shape of a sphere of diameter D moves past an observer on Earth with a speed of 0.5c. What shape does the observer measure for the spacecraft as it moves past?
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Expert's answer
2015-05-13T02:49:51-0400
Solution: L'=L* sqrt(1- (v/c)^2) If v=0.5c - > L'= L*sqrt(1- (0.5c/c)^2) = L * 0.866 L = D -> L' = 0.866*D
So the shape does the observer measure for the spacecraft as it moves past is ellipse with major axis D and minor axis 0.866D
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