Lorentz Contraction Calculator
Calculate how lengths contract for objects moving at relativistic speeds
Length Contraction Results
Proper Length L₀
1.0000e+2 m
Contracted Length L
7.4496e+1 m
Contraction Factor L/L₀
0.744958
Percent Contraction
25.5042%
Velocity (β = v/c)
0.667111408c
2.0000e+8 m/s
Lorentz Factor γ
1.342358
Contraction at Various Speeds
| Velocity (%c) | Contracted Length | L/L₀ |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0% | 9.9499e+1 m | 0.9950 |
| 50.0% | 8.6603e+1 m | 0.8660 |
| 90.0% | 4.3589e+1 m | 0.4359 |
| 99.0% | 1.4107e+1 m | 0.1411 |
| 99.9% | 4.4710e+0 m | 0.0447 |
About Lorentz Contraction
According to special relativity, an object moving relative to an observer appears contracted in the direction of motion: L = L₀/γ = L₀√(1 - v²/c²). The proper length L₀ is measured in the object's rest frame. This is a real effect, not an optical illusion, and has been confirmed experimentally.