1. Set the time scrubber back to the beginning of the timeline.
2. Select the Set tab and click on the Props button.
3. Double-click on the Infinite Plane prop located in the Physics Props folder of the Content Manager to load it into place.
4. Save the project to a new file name and run the simulation.
The following image shows the result of the refined simulation with the boards scatted out across the infinite plane:
We added the infinite plane physics prop to stop the boards from falling through the floor and the change of state on the bottom board effected the entire simulation including the top board dropping down as well.
Note
At this point, we can turn off the simulation and the objects retain the animation. This is also known as baking in animation. The props will always retain the last simulation animation unless you specifically select the prop or props and turn off the physics properties. Otherwise, the animation is overwritten with the next simulation. After we turn off the simulation we can observe the baked in animation segments on the timeline of the physics prop.
Delete the ball prop or turn its opacity off and place a character in the scene or a prop such as a forklift and have it hit the boards at the same time as they start to fall. This will simulate using the prop or character to knock the boards down.
Better yet… use a character driving a forklift to appear to be knocking the boards down!
This is a very nice simulation at this point and we would be very hard pressed to keyframe this by hand so as you can see… physics rock!