Publish Date: 5/29/18 Topic: Physics + Math. Abstract: Einstein's "Gedanken" experiments (thought experiments) - particularly his train-embankment thought experiments - were apparently intended to explain Special Relativity logically and in layman's terms, but they were written in an incredibly convoluted way, which seems to have resulted in them being misinterpreted by many physicists. (the train comes from different aspect of this and is not relevant to the question being asked). Imagine you have a twin in a rocket ship. the normal procedure in the presentation is to (1) go through the exercise of synchronizing first the station clocks and then the moving train clocks, (2) perform some simple measurements in both the moving and stationary reference frames, (3) discover that the measurements in the two reference frames do not agree and hence violate one or both of In developing special relativity, Einstein began by accepting what experiment and his own thinking showed to be the true behaviour of light, even when this contradicted classical physics or the usual perceptions about the world. Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity is a monumental achievement of human ingenuity, creativity and perseverance to say the least. So how could one thought change the w. This thought experiment led to Einstein's so-called "equivalence principle," which states that the effects of gravity and acceleration are the same. A popular picture for understanding this idea is provided by a thought experiment similar to those suggested by Daniel Frost Comstock in 1910 [13] and Einstein in 1917. I don't know if he was trying to oversimplify or if an editor or translator messed it up, but the explanation violates the principles of special relativity. Introduction. The round trip time is given as T = ( 2 D / c) / 1 ( v / c) 2, where D is the distance from the inception point to a mirror moving in the same frame. Also, as @benrg points out, the author implicitly assumes from the outset that the emissions of the two beams were simultaneous on both the train and the platform, which is directly incompatible with the theory he thinks he is illustrating. In a thought experiment, Einstein was trying to chase a light beam, and he found out a solution, he solved the conundrum by definition, claiming the speed of light must be a constant in every reference frame. Einstein recalled how, at the age of 16, he imagined chasing after a beam of light and that the thought experiment had played a memorable role in his development of special relativity. 1) The speed of light (in a vacuum etc) is constant in all reference frames 2) Simultaneity is relative So yes c is the same on the platform and on the train and everywhere else but may be experienced differently (through time) in different reference frames. He is discussing the propagation of the lightning bolts under the assumption that in both the embankment frame and in the train frame the bolts must be observed to propagate at the speed of light, regardless of the relative velocities of the sources that emitted them wrt the . Here are a set of thought experiments that help to explain Special Relativity. Famous as it is, it has proven difficult to understand just how the thought experiment delivers its results. It shows Einstein's genius. This is a cornerstone in Einstein's special theory of relativity. Einstein's Train Thought Experiment Einstein's version of the experiment presumed slightly different conditions, where a train moving past the standing observer is struck by two bolts of lightning simultaneously, but at different positions along the axis of train movement (back and front of the traincar). Of course, as Einstein was happy to admit, the only real way to test a theory is by carrying out experiments in reality. In Einstein's version the onboard observer sees the flash from the forward strike first because while the light from the strike was propagating he and the train moved forward toward the location of the source of the flash. Experiment 1. Experiment 5. The thought experiment of Einstein's train The thought experiment of Einstein's train <UP to now our considerations have been referred to a particular body of reference, which we have styled a "railway embankment." We suppose a very long train travelling along the rails with the constant velocity v and in the direction indicated in Fig. Tune in to tonight's episode of Genius. All the equivalence principle tells us, is that this situation is equivalent to an elevator standing still on the surface of the Earth. A thought experiment is an experiment which is imagined. Can you explain Einstein's train metaphor/thought experiment. The fact that the speed of light is the same for all observers is inexplicable in . Einstein's lightening-hit-train thought experiment. In his youth, he mentally chased beams of light. 1. In this publication the core information about Einstein's flawed relativity of simultaneity thought experiment paradigm was specifically extracted from section 12.6 in the extended publication (1). [14] [12] It also consists of one observer midway inside a speeding traincar and another observer standing on a platform as the train moves past. Apparently the philosopher complicated Einstein's train thought experiment by adding a racecar, and found contradictions which prove special relativity is inconsistent. The relativistic time dilatation effect and Einstein's second postulate of special relativity are used to analyse train/embankment thought expriments, both Einstein's original one, and an. This theory said that all steady motion is relevant and cannot be detected without reference to an outside point. In both cases of Einstein's thought experiment (Accelerating room and the room "resting" on the ground) a Secondary Force is creating the effect of weight. Answers and Replies Mar 16, 2012 #2 Janus. then it is not accessible by SR. Abstract: Einstein's "Gedanken" experiments (thought experiments) - particularly his train-embankment thought experiments - were apparently intended to explain Special Relativity logically and in layman's terms, but they were written in an incredibly convoluted way, which seems to have resulted in them being misinterpreted by many physicists. In the third paper you cite, the author utterly misunderstands the point of Einstein's thought experiment. Experiment 2. Staff Emeritus. Gravity is exerting exactly the same amount of force on each atomic particle of the body, simultaneously . This is a cornerstone in Einstein's special theory of relativity. Einstein used the theory of Galileo as the basis of his imagination of himself as travelling at the speed of light (C). Thanks. Einstein famously called this thought. Insights Author. The purpose in examining Einstein's Train Thought Experiment is to point out fallacies in Einstein's logic. Albert Einstein - Genius: Imagine A Train It is not part of Einstein's original 1905 paper where relativity of simultaneity is explained mathematically (which I treat here ). TL;DR Summary. These experiments are often called "thought experiments". Share. To bring his process to life, National Geographic created an interactive version of one of Einstein's most famous thought experiments: a parable about lightning strikes as seen from a moving. However, the germ of any physical experiment must start in the mind, and this page looks at one of the best examples of a such a thought experiment; that of the theoretical light clock. 2022 - info@aatventure.news Answer (1 of 3): Actually, no, at least not as it is explained in the English translation of Einstein's book, Relativity. invariance of the speed of light. Experiment 4. Einstein's Thought Experiment. While one might reasonably argue that there were. This thought experiment showed that time moves differently for someone moving than for someone standing still, cementing Einstein's belief that time and space are relative and simultaneity doesn't exist. This thought experiment showed that time moves differently for someone moving than for someone standing still, cementing Einstein's belief that time and space are relative and simultaneity doesn't exist. In an attempt to explain why this must be so, Einstein used a thought experiment of a train with length L which moves past a platform of a station when lightning simultaneously strikes. For the thought experiment, Einstein calculates a round trip time for a pulse of light from inception to reflection back to the inception point as measured in a moving frame. This thought experiment showed that time moves differently for someone moving than for someone standing still, cementing Einstein's belief that time and space are relative and simultaneity. Einstein's thought experiments A hallmark of Albert Einstein 's career was his use of visualized thought experiments ( German: Gedankenexperiment [1]) as a fundamental tool for understanding physical issues and for elucidating his concepts to others. Einstein's version of the experiment presumed that one observer was sitting midway inside a speeding traincar and another was standing on a platform as the train moved past. This thought eventually changed the world forever. As measured by the standing observer, the train is struck by two bolts of lightning simultaneously, but at different positions along the axis of train movement (back and front of the train car). Science Advisor. Einstein's Train Thought-Experiment, Fast Neutrinos (and One-Way Measurements of the Speed of Light) Posted on October 10, 2011by Tim Joslin My previous, somewhat rambling, postattempted to explain the recent experimental observation of neutrinos apparently travelling faster than light. This gives the flash a shorter distance to reach the observer than . Experiment 6. Thanks . . Your perception of time depends on how . However, it is con. Can you explain Einstein's train metaphor/thought experiment. Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity explained by Gedanken (Thought) Experiments. Simple, easy exercise. The mind - Einstein's . I really love this train experiment. Imagine you have a twin in a rocket ship. Yes . Mar 16, 2012 #3 markf. Gold Member. However, there can be and are multiple interpretations of this thought It may seem like this is a relatively simple , visual thought experiment, and that therefore there cannot be multiple interpretations of the thought experiment. Experiment 3. 5 0. Albert talks his friend Michele Besso through another thought experiment to explain time. This is about Einstein's famous ' train thought experiment ' ('Gedankenexperiment') proving Relativity of Simultaneity. Are you referring his thought experiment dealing with the Relativity of Simultaneity? This has Lorentz explained to Einstein in 1916, and Einstein has conceded it without taking . Insights Blog . This is the simplified logic of Einstein . But Einstein, like no other before or after him, was a master . Measuring Light From a Moving Train If two beams were emitted from a moving train, the person on the train would see both beams be emitted at the same time. Einstein conducted a couple of thoughts experiment which led to the principles of relativity. Einstein's Special Relativity Explained Simply - No Math. 3,740 1,690. Your perception of time depends on how you are moving. Einstein's thought experiments took diverse forms. When a Primary Force such as Gravity is exerted on a body alone, (falling body) the body accelerates but the body is weightless! It's really simple: if the elevator accelerated at 1g, while in zero gravity, light would stay put, looking for the people in the elevator as if it was accelerated downwards at 1g. Albert Einstein was neither the first nor the last to use thought experiments in his research. By Arlo Perez. However, most likely scenario is that the "racecar on a train" is too complicated for goatee man to find correct conclusions. In 1895, a 16-year-old boy imagined himself chasing a beam of light. Hence Einstein is endeavoring to show that accepting the light postulate necessarily implies relativity of simultaneity. Asked ) train metaphor/thought experiment s episode of genius the Earth 5/29/18 Topic: + Inexplicable in of Simultaneity the observer than a rocket ship the Relativity of Simultaneity in a rocket ship Einstein. The third paper you cite, the author utterly misunderstands the point of Einstein & x27! 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