The Relativistic Lightning Rod · AI Generator #GEN-7F0E1314
Physics
Problem
A lightning rod on top of a tall building has a length of L0=2.0m when measured at rest. During a thunderstorm, the rod is struck by lightning, causing it to become highly charged and creating a brief but intense electric field that accelerates the rod horizontally to a speed of v=0.60c relative to the ground.
An observer standing on the ground measures the length of the moving lightning rod during this acceleration phase. What length does the ground observer measure?