The Meter Stick in the Match Box

An implication of the Lorentz contraction is explored. Texts of special relativity show that a meter stick in an appropriate inertial frame is sufficiently contracted to be entirely contained in a match box. It is shown that with an appropriately transparent match box and sufficient technology, an observer at rest with respect to the match box could obtain a photograph recording the meter stick as entirely contained in the match box. A photograph taken at this spot at the same time by an observer in the inertial frame of the meter stick (or any other) also shows the meter stick overlapped at both ends of the match box. The analysis is valid for all distances between match box and observer.