- #106
A.T.
Science Advisor
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In these discussions people often argue whether something is "physical" or "real", but often mean different things by these terms or don't even have a precise definition of them in their own mind.Simi said:No I get it, it's not an actual physical length change but a measurement of length in a different system of coordinates.
Consider a circular train track and an unlimited supply of train engines, entering that circle from an tangential side track. The number of engines you can fit on that circle, depends on their contracted length. The faster they go, the more of them you can fit in.
Whether you consider that "real" or "physical" is semantics.