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Thought experiment facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A thought experiment is an experiment that takes place in the mind of a scientist. Unlike with a real-life experiment where change is actually seen and perhaps measured, thought experiments are done just to show a special way of thinking. Anyone can do a thought experiment. All you need is your mind because all the steps take place in your mind.

The usual goal of a thought experiment is to explore the consequences of the principle in question. Like so: if this were true, what would follow from it?

Thought experiments are notable in the history of science. Hans Christian Ørsted was the first to use the German term Gedankenexperiment (means 'thought experiment') about 1812.

Posing hypothetical questions had been done for long time (by scientists and philosophers). However, people had no way of talking about it.

Images for kids

  • The Prefactual Thought Experiment

    Temporal representation of a prefactual thought experiment.

  • The Counterfactual Thought Experiment

    Temporal representation of a counterfactual thought experiment.

  • The Semifactual Thought Experiment

    Temporal representation of a semifactual thought experiment.

  • Prediction, Forecasting and Nowcasting

    Temporal representation of prediction, forecasting and nowcasting.

  • Hindcasting

    Temporal representation of hindcasting.

  • Retrodiction or Postdiction

    Temporal representation of retrodiction or postdiction.

  • Backcasting

    Temporal representation of backcasting.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Experimento mental para niños

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