How did Einstein know the properties of space and time

In summary, Einstein used his immense intellect and understanding of complex topics to figure out the properties of the Universe, including time dilation/relativity and energy matter equivalence. While he did not conduct experiments himself, his work was based on previously tested physics and mathematics. He also thought deeply about possible models of reality and tested them against established models. While he did not come up with everything himself, his theory of general relativity was largely his own creation.
  • #1
Niaboc67
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How did he figure out the many properties of the Universe such as time dilation/relativity and energy matter equivalence and his numerous other contributions. This might be a dumb question but was this all just done on paper? I don't recall reading that Einstein ever conducted experiments. Therefore, was it really just held in his mind and a pad of paper?
 
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  • #2
Niaboc67 said:
How did he figure out the many properties of the Universe such as time dilation/relativity and energy matter equivalence and his numerous other contributions. This might be a dumb question but was this all just done on paper? I don't recall reading that Einstein ever conducted experiments. Therefore, was it really just held in his mind and a pad of paper?

He had an amazing intuitive grasp of complex topics and did not himself do experiments (as far as I know) BUT much of his work was based on physics and math that had been tested empirically (particularly Maxwell's Equations) so I don't think your question has as simple an answer as you might like.
 
  • #3
He was going off others work which was proven and then used those to formulate greater ideas of the Universe? Fascinating how this was all in his head. Even more so with someone like Stephen Hawkins, where it is truly mental calculations of the Universe.
 
  • #4
By thinking about it a lot, thinking of possible models of reality, testing the models against empirically 'proven' models of reality to see if they make sense.
 
  • #5
Einstein did a lot, but he didn't come up with everything himself. The math for special relativity mostly comes from Hendrik Lorentz' aether theory, which he developed to explain the null result of the Michelson-Morley experiment. So SR certainly has a basis in the MM experiment. GR, though, was pretty much all Einstein just reasoning it out, and was developed before the confirmation via Mercury precession measurements.
 

1. How did Einstein come up with the theory of relativity?

Einstein developed the theory of relativity by building on the work of previous scientists such as Galileo and Newton. He also conducted thought experiments and used mathematical equations to explain how gravity and motion are related to the properties of space and time.

2. What is special relativity and how did Einstein discover it?

Special relativity is a theory that explains the relationship between space and time for objects moving at constant speeds. Einstein discovered it by considering the speed of light and how it is constant regardless of the observer's frame of reference.

3. What is general relativity and how did Einstein develop it?

General relativity is a theory that describes how gravity affects the curvature of space and time. Einstein developed it by including acceleration and gravity in his equations of special relativity and by incorporating the concept of curved space-time.

4. How did Einstein know that time and space are relative?

Einstein's theory of relativity states that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion. This means that time and space are not absolute, but rather relative concepts that depend on the observer's frame of reference.

5. Did Einstein's theory of relativity change our understanding of space and time?

Yes, Einstein's theory of relativity completely revolutionized our understanding of space and time. It showed that they are intertwined and not separate entities, and that they can be affected by factors such as gravity and velocity. This theory has been confirmed by numerous experiments and is a fundamental concept in modern physics.

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