Einstein developed much of his understanding of relativity through the use of gedanken, or thought, experiments. In a gedanken experiment, Einstein would imagine an experiment that could not be performed because of technological limitations, and so he would perform the experiment in his head. By analyzing the results of these experiments, he was led to a deeper understanding of his theory. In each the following gedanken experiments, Albert is in the exact center of a glass-sided freight car speeding to the right at a very high speed vvv relative to you. Albert has a flashlight in each hand and directs them at the front and rear ends of the freight car. Albert switches the flashlights on at the same time.

In Albert's frame of reference, which beam of light travels at a greater speed, the one directed toward the front or the one toward the rear of the train, or do they travel at the same speed? Which beam travels faster in your frame of reference? Enter the answers for Albert's frame of reference and your frame of reference separated by a comma using the terms front, rear, and same. For example, if in Albert's frame of reference the beam of light directed toward the front of the train travels at a greater speed and in your frame of reference the two beams travel at the same speed, then enter front, same.