Final answer:
Einstein's train thought experiment uses a scenario with light flashes observed by different observers to demonstrate the relative nature of simultaneity and time, a concept confirmed by numerous experiments, upholding the theory of relativity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The logic behind Einstein's train thought experiment is to illustrate how the principles of relativity contradict our intuitive understanding of events. Einstein imagined observers in different frames of reference observing light flashes.
According to relativity, two observers may disagree on whether events occur simultaneously if they are in motion relative to one another. This discrepancy demonstrates the relative nature of time itself, a cornerstone of Einstein's theory. The genius of Einstein's Gedankenexperiment is that it upends the conventional wisdom of his time through clear and logical thinking, an approach that has been confirmed by subsequent experiments.
Thought experiments like these demonstrate the importance of not relying solely on intuition but instead requiring empirical evidence to support scientific theories. This practice is a vital aspect of the scientific method. As aforementioned, no experiment has since been able to detect an 'ether medium,' further validating the special theory of relativity, which includes predictions about the relativity of distance and time intervals for different observers.