📐 Forces on a Ramp

🎯 Where This Came From

McKenzie's original lesson: Students used PhET simulation to explore forces on inclined planes.

Problems identified:

• PhET sim too long — students didn't finish
• Students procrastinated
• Even strong students gave one-word answers
• Weak connection to F=ma

Design goal: More focused, more visual, directly connected to physics concepts.

🛠️ Design Decisions

• PhET-style visuals: Familiar interface reduces cognitive load
• Draggable crate + Release: Students predict before testing (inquiry loop)
• Dynamic vector scaling: Forces auto-scale to fit canvas at any mass/angle
• Friction feedback message: "Too strong!" turns confusion into teaching moment
• Energy bar (PE→KE): Real-time visualization of energy conservation
• Side panel controls: Keeps all tools visible while manipulating

⚠️ Known Limitations

• Angle label unclear: Degree marking doesn't clearly show what's being measured
• No question scaffolding: Students don't know what to look for (consider sentence starters)
• Static friction oversimplified: Real μ_s > μ_k
• Energy bar confusion: With friction on, total energy appears to "disappear" (heat not shown)
• No data export: Can't capture screenshots or values for analysis
• FBD scales independently: Vectors don't match main simulation scale