What is the key idea that led Einstein to the General theory of Relativity?

Albert Einstein’s “happiest thought” is the subject of this week’s "A Moment of Science with Brian Greene" — it is the very thought that ultimately led Einstein to the General Theory of Relativity.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for all the latest from WSF.

[edoardobarbieri]

Brian Greene, Neild De Grasse Tyson, Lawrence Krauss, Richard Feynman, Leonard Susskind, Stephen Hawking.
THANKS

[f-m]

For some reason, physicists think there should be an apple in any thought experiment about gravity!

[migfed]

Please unleash more new festivals paneles about physics or math, they are brilliant

[pikiwiki]

These nuggets are great- easy to understand and pithy

[chumpalounka]

Roughly, put it out like this: You and I and everything on Earth is always falling towards whatever force is pulling. If there wouldn't be no ground, we would be forever ever falling, because of gravity.

[MihirGore]

I still marvel at this revelation. Equivalence principle is awesome

[tejprakashagarwal]

First time I got it how free falling cancels gravity after 3 years since I studied it first

[charlesbrightman]

What exactly is "time"? If we don't truly know what "time" actually is, then how could we have accurate units of measurements for it when we don't even know what it is?

[frankeinstein]

I don't understand how free falling cancels the effect of gravity.

[obendelaurencig]

Next time use The Way I Am video for this example.