Gedanken experiment
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Related to Gedanken experiment: Thought experiment
Gedanken experiment
[ge′däŋk·ən ik‚sper·ə·mənt] (physics)
A hypothetical (“thought”) experiment which is possible in principle and is analyzed (but not performed) to test some hypothesis. Also known as thought experiment.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.