Two rockets of rest length L0 are approaching the earth from
opposite
directions at velocities ±c/2. How long does one of them appear to
the
other?
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Lets us name the rocket as A and B When a point on Earth we will observe that A has velocity c/2 and B has velocity −c/2 (Negtive sign indicate opposite direction) According to the velocity addition law, v'2 = (v2 − v1)/(1 − v1v2/c2 ) = (−c/2) − (c/2) / 1 − (c/2)(−c/2)/c2 = − 4/5 c Which means B appears to be approaching at 4/5 c Now applying the Lorentz contraction formula we get, L' =  L0/γ = L0√1 − (4 / 5)2 = 3/5 L0 ...