FitzGerald contraction
noun Physics.
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
Fitz·Ger·ald-Lo·rentz contrac·tion
[fits-jer-uh ld lawr-ents, -lohr-] /fɪtsˈdʒɛr əld ˈlɔr ɛnts, -ˈloʊr-/,
Lorentz-FitzGerald contraction,
Lorentz contraction,
length contraction.
Origin of FitzGerald contraction
First recorded in 1915–20; named after G. F.
FitzGerald