Step-by-step reasoning: who’s in danger first?

The problem: the question asks who gets hit first.
The solution: forget misleading ground details. The rock E pushes rolls straight down. D is right in its path, so he’s the first to be in trouble.

Second effect: the impact tips the plank, lowering the side above C—putting C directly at risk next.

Third step: the other end of the plank rises, freeing the second rock so it rolls away. On its path, it’s B who faces the next problem.

Conclusion: the order of bad outcomes is D, then C, then B. A stays safely out of the chain reaction.

A mental trick: think “domino effect.” The first domino is the slope, the second is the plank, and the third is the second rock.

What this game reveals about how you think

Problem: do you hesitate, change your mind, or see multiple possible outcomes?

Solution: that’s completely normal! Your brain is testing different scenarios, like a director filming several takes.

The key isn’t knowing advanced physics, but identifying the trigger (the slope), anticipating the plank’s reaction, and then following the logic to the end.

A quick tip: cover up “extra” details in the drawing with your hand (or a sticky note) and reveal them step by step, as if you were investigating a case.

Finally, compare your reasoning with the solution: if you came up with D > C > B, congratulations! If not, replay the sequence in slow motion. Just like whipping egg whites into stiff peaks—it takes patience and consistency, but the “aha!” moment will come.