If a rod is moving at a velocity equal to 1/2 the speed of light parallel to its length, what will a stationary observer observe about its length?
The length of the rod will become exactly half of its original value.
The length of the rod remains the same.
The length of the rod will decrease.
The length of the rod will increase.
Wouldn't the length double, thus being answer D?
No, actually the correct answer is C - "The length of the rod will decrease." According to Einstein's theory of special relativity, as an object approaches the speed of light, its length in the direction of motion appears to become shorter from the perspective of a stationary observer. This phenomenon is known as length contraction. The closer the object's velocity is to the speed of light, the more pronounced the effect becomes. In this case, since the rod is moving at a velocity equal to 1/2 the speed of light, its length will appear shortened to a stationary observer. To calculate the specific length contraction factor, you can use the Lorentz transformation equation:
L' = L * sqrt(1 - (v^2/c^2))
Where L' is the observed length, L is the proper length (length in the rod's frame of reference), v is the velocity of the rod, and c is the speed of light. Plugging in the values, the observed length of the rod will be shorter than its proper length.