Source

Collection

Wiki SR simulations (v1) — engine-generated sim converted to the global shell.

Concept

A massive object's total relativistic energy splits as E = γmc² = mc² + (γ−1)mc²: a fixed rest energy plus a kinetic energy that grows without bound as v → c.

Serves

A stacked-bar decomposition (in units of mc²) that lets students see the rest piece stay fixed while the kinetic piece towers up, and compare it against the Newtonian ½mv² estimate.

Inquiry

Does kinetic energy level off, cap at mc², or grow forever? Where does the Newtonian ½mv² formula fail?

Misconception

That relativistic KE saturates — at ½mc² (Newtonian) or at the rest energy mc² — rather than diverging as v → c.

Pedagogy principles applied

ID	Principle	How it shows up here
H1	Misconception is structural, not a text card	The "levels off" and "caps at mc²" errors are wrong prediction choices; each rebuttal appears only if the student picks it.
D6/D7	Guided inquiry reveals in stages	Five step-cards run predict → observe → verify (KE passes mc²) → introduce the Newtonian comparison (predict first) → resolve; the Newtonian overlay is revealed exactly when its step needs it.
A2	Fewest objects	One stacked bar in units of mc²; the mass slider from the raw sim is dropped since the shape depends only on speed.
C	Every number earns its place	γ, KE%, rest, KE, total and the Newtonian estimate are each read or compared by a step.
Physics honesty	No auto-swept velocity	Speed is a static slider (plus discrete step-through of inertial frames); nothing sweeps v over time, so there is no fake acceleration.