Einstein's thought experiments and reality (1 Viewer)

[serge]

Hey everyone

there's a dot point that asks students to

interpret and analyse Einstein's thought experiments
and discuss the relationship between thought and reality...

the examples are fine, but what is the relationship between
thought and reality

is this similar to the relationship between hypothesis and evidence?

Or do they mean in REALITY no one ever travels fast enough
to feel any noticeable effects of mass increase, time dilation
and length contraction etc?

Or thought could relate to scientific models...
and reality could relate to evidence?

cheers

 

[LostAuzzie]

I dont quite get that dot point either but...
I think its similar to difference between hypothesis and evidence
Since Einstein's experiments could not be tested they were merely based on thought and thus were similar to a hypothesis.
However we now have evidence suggesting he was right

 

[serge]

I dont quite get that dot point either but...
I think its similar to difference between hypothesis and evidence
Since Einstein's experiments could not be tested they were merely based on thought and thus were similar to a hypothesis.
However we now have evidence suggesting he was right

yeh, i agree with you

"thought and reality" sounds more like philosophy than physics

 

[serge]

What's The Difference

Great! I just found that the next dot point
has something written along the lines of

"discuss the relationship between theory and evidence"!

So how does this differ with the relationship with

"thought and reality"

 

[helper]

The two are similar:

Theory and evidence:
The scientific method traditionally said we:
Hypothesised
Experiment
Adjust Hypothesis based on experiment.

With Einstein's theoretical physics, we first developed a theory. At the time it was impossible to physically test as what was expected, so he then use his thought experiments to test them until physical experiments could be used.

Thought and Reality.
When we make observations, we have traditionally thought these observations to be reality. Eg, we measure a ruler and it is 1 metre long, however, when we think of it in terms of relativity, is that observation correct? (should use one of Einstein's thought experiments here to show difference. Eg Twin Paradox)

So which version of reality is true? Our reality is based on our thought process and experiences. So is our reality, the true reality or is it our understanding of reality beased on our thoughts?

Anyway, I am going out now and what I have written has asked more questions than it answers. I will try harder to answer that one on Monday night.