Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 35 - Think and Explain - Page 684-685: 79

Answer

This is due to length contraction.

Work Step by Step

From the electron's reference frame, the 2-mile long tube is moving very fast past the electron. The speed is so close to the speed of light that the contraction factor is large enough to contract 2 miles down to less than a meter.
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