Einstein's thought experiments

Einstein’s thought experiments are mental exercises that explore complex ideas about space, time, and gravity. For instance, imagining riding alongside a beam of light helped him realize that the speed of light is constant and led to special relativity. Similarly, envisioning someone in free fall showed him how gravity can be seen as curved space, forming the basis for general relativity. These mental scenarios allowed Einstein to develop revolutionary theories without physical experiments initially, by challenging and deepening our understanding of how the universe works.