Einstein’s elevator and the principle of equivalence

We outline here the design, execution, and educational outcomes of an intervention inspired by Einstein’s elevator thought experiment, intended to introduce secondary school students to the principle of equivalence, which is at the basis of the theory of general relativity. We build an experimental version of Einstein’s elevator, which simulated the effects of free-fall in an accelerated reference frame: a detailed description of the experimental apparatus and its construction is provided, highlighting the challenges and innovations in creating a simple yet functional setup using everyday materials.