This is a series of animated gif's. The animation, a part of the Multimedia Physics Studios, demonstrates the length contraction of a spaceship moving relative to an Earth observer at four speeds: 0.1c, 0.865c, 0.99c, and 0.9999c. The author also provides a discussion of special relativity at The Physics Classroom and a simulation of length contraction at Shockwave Physics Studios.
Type of Material:
Animation
Technical Requirements:
None
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Visualization and intuitive understanding of relativistic length contraction.
Target Student Population:
Though intended primarily for high school students, this animation is also suitable for lower-level undergraduate students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic terms in special relativity
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Nifty graphics and wonderful animation which give a good introduction to the concept of length contraction. A quantitative description is included and is useful if the theory is known.
Concerns:
The accompanying text lacks clarity. Consider, for example, the first two sentences:
"One of the peculiar aspects of Einstein's theory of special relativity is that the length of objects moving at relativistic speeds undergo a contraction along the dimension of motion."
What special relativity predicts is that an observer moving relative to the object measures a shorter length along the direction of motion.
"An observer at rest (relative to the moving object) would observe the moving object to be shorter in length."
An observer at rest relative to the moving object measures the proper length of the object. The later part of this text provides more of the necessary emphasis on measurement.
Quantitative results are given, but no details of the theory.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Recommended Use for Material: Lecture/Demo
This animation gives students an intuitive grasp of relativistic length contraction. Students will find the animation entertaining.
Concerns:
The site does not have too much breadth or depth. In order to use the quantitative results, more theoretical details need to be given.
General Comments on Effectiveness: Reference is made to the length of the ship at rest, yet there is no picture of the ship at rest.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Extremely user-friendly and attractive: not even a single click of the mouse is necessary.
The information is easily accessible to most any user.
Concerns:
This demonstration is non-interactive.
Creative Commons:
Search by ISBN?
It looks like you have entered an ISBN number. Would you like to search using what you have
entered as an ISBN number?
Searching for Members?
You entered an email address. Would you like to search for members? Click Yes to continue. If no, materials will be displayed first. You can refine your search with the options on the left of the results page.
Searching for Members?
You entered an email address. Would you like to search for members? Click Yes to continue. If no, materials will be displayed first. You can refine your search with the options on the left of the results page.
