Is a length-contracted object shorter or longer than proper length?

[benk99nenm312]

I ask this just to clarify something, because something I read threw me off earlier.

An object travels near the speed of light, and you are stationary. You measure the object somehow, and find it's length from your reference frame. Would it's length be shorter or longer than the proper length?

Thanks in advance.

 

[dx]

Shorter.

 

[phyti]

I ask this just to clarify something, because something I read threw me off earlier.

An object travels near the speed of light, and you are stationary. You measure the object somehow, and find it's length from your reference frame. Would it's length be shorter or longer than the proper length?

Thanks in advance.

Either.

 

[JesseM]

Either.

As long as you're using an inertial frame, it's not possible for an object's length to be longer than its proper length (length in its own rest frame).

 

[benk99nenm312]

As long as you're using an inertial frame, it's not possible for an object's length to be longer than its proper length (length in its own rest frame).

That's what I thought.