An avalanche and a protective forest
Snowballs roll down a mountain. Rows of trees on the slope slow the avalanche so less snow reaches the house.
2D
Age 7+10 min
FrictionMomentum & collisionsGravity
Loading simulation…
Press “Run”. Bodies move by the laws of physics: gravity, friction, elasticity.
What the experiment shows
An avalanche picks up speed on a steep slope. Each obstacle takes some energy and deflects the clumps, so a forest on the slope protects the village.
How to run it
- Press “Run” and watch the house.
- In the editor delete the trees and run again.
- Put a snow barrier in front of the house.
Questions to discuss
- Why do avalanches happen more on steep slopes?
- Why are fences built across mountain slopes?
The science
The downhill force grows with steepness: m·g·sin α. Obstacles take momentum and turn motion energy into heat and deformation — the avalanche slows and spreads out.
Try it at home
Pour grain down a tilted board with toothpick ‘trees’ stuck in it and compare how far it rolls.
What to change in the editor
- Make the snowballs heavier.
- Make the slope gentler.