Exploration 2: To the Left, To the Right
The splitter at the beginning of the track sorts each marble randomly to the left or to the right.
This adds an unpredictable and surprising element to the marble’s path. However, sometimes it takes only
a minor adjustment to make something random more predictable. Take a piece of paper and make four to five
folds to give it some thickness. Then, lift the white base of the track and place the paper on either
the left or right side of the track. This creates an uneven base, forcing all the blocks, including the splitter,
to tilt and favor one direction. Test with five marbles and see the splitter still yields random results.
- Did the tilt in the track change the results of the splitter?