Helpful hints for running the simulation

  • To restore the matrix and clear the bins at the bottom for beginning a new experiment, hit "Clear".

  • To initialize your experiment, move your computer cursor arrow to the scale below the letters -E.........+E and click. This puts one ball in position to fall through the matrix.

  • Click on "Simulate" to start the ball moving through the matrix.

  • Be sure the web page for the simulation is as near the top of your computer screen as possible so you will be able to see the bins and read the information below the matrix.

  • You may choose to drop 10, 100, 1000, or 10000 balls instead of a single ball (note that dropping a large number of balls will take more time to complete on most computers).

  • The "continuous" button allows the initial position of the balls to be arbitrarily placed between any two initial position markers, whereas "discrete" will move the ball(s) to the midpoint between the two pegs in the top row.

  • Multiple clicks give multiple numbers of balls (e.g., 4 clicks on "1 ball" gives you 4 balls and 6 clicks on "100 balls" gives you 600 balls).