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
British Dictionary definitions for fitzgerald-lorentz contraction
Fitzgerald-Lorentz contraction
/ (fɪtsˈdʒɛrəldlɔːˈrɛnts) /
noun
physics
the contraction that a moving body exhibits when its velocity approaches that of light
Word Origin for Fitzgerald-Lorentz contraction
C19: named after G. F.
Fitzgerald (1851–1901), Irish physicist, and H. A.
Lorentz