Imported from yudiell/candle_carousel (.cursor/rules/AGENTS.md). Install upstream with npx skills add yudiell/candle_carousel --skill rules. Copyright stays with the author.

Candle Carousel Science Project Website - Steering Document

Project Overview

Goal: Build a website showcasing the Candle Carousel Science Project that demonstrates how thermal energy from candles converts into mechanical motion through convection.

Tech Stack:

• Simple PHP (static PHP files, no server required)
• HTML/CSS for structure and styling
• No database or server-side processing needed

Target Audience: Science fair judges, educators, students, and general public interested in physics demonstrations

Website Structure: 10 Pages

Page 1: Home/Title Page (index.php)

Content:

• Project title: "How Candle Carousels Convert Heat Energy into Motion"
• Visual header with project name
• Brief tagline or subtitle
• Navigation menu to other pages
• Optional: Hero image of candle carousel

Key Elements:

• Clean, professional design
• Clear navigation structure
• Introduction to the project

Page 2: Purpose (purpose.php)

Content:

• Full purpose statement from reference document
• Explanation of why the experiment was conducted
• Importance and applicability of the experiment
• Connection to real-world applications (wind turbines, hot air balloons, heating systems)

Reference Material:

• Use Purpose section from "How Candle Carousels Convert Heat Energy into Motion.md"

Page 3: Background Research (background.php)

Content:

• Historical context: German Christmas pyramids from Erzgebirge region
• Origin story: Miners using candle pyramids in mines (18th century)
• Evolution from practical tool to decorative item
• Scientific explanation of convection
• How convection creates motion in candle carousels
• Comparison to wind turbines

Reference Material:

• Background Research section
• Historical Context section
• The Science of Convection section

Page 4: Research Question & Hypothesis (question_hypothesis.php)

Content:

• Research Question: "How does the number of candles affect the rotational speed of a candle carousel?"
• Hypothesis statement in if-then-because format
• Clear explanation of predicted relationship

Reference Material:

• Question section
• Hypothesis section

Page 5: Variables & Materials (variables_materials.php)

Content:

• Variables Section:
  • Independent Variable: Number of candles (1, 2, 3, or 4)
  • Dependent Variable: Rotational speed (RPM)
  • Constant Variables: List all controlled variables
• Materials Section:
  • Complete list of materials needed
  • Organized by category (candles, construction materials, measurement tools)

Reference Material:

• Variables section
• Materials section

Page 6: Procedures (procedures.php)

Content:

• Step-by-step instructions for building the carousel
• Detailed experimental procedure
• Safety precautions prominently displayed
• Numbered steps with clear formatting
• Visual organization for easy following

Reference Material:

• Procedures section (all 8 main steps)

Page 7: Data & Results (data_results.php)

Content:

• Data Section:
  • Data table showing trials and averages
  • Additional observations
  • Clear metric units (RPM)
• Results Section:
  • Statistical analysis summary
  • Key findings
  • Relationship description (linear, exponential, etc.)
  • Percentage calculations

Reference Material:

• Data section
• Result section

Page 8: Graph (graph.php)

Content:

• Visual representation of data
• Line graph or bar chart showing:
  • X-axis: Number of Candles (1, 2, 3, 4)
  • Y-axis: Average Rotations per Minute (RPM)
  • Title: "Effect of Number of Candles on Carousel Rotation Speed"
• Can be implemented as:
  • Static image (if data/images available)
  • HTML5 Canvas/SVG chart
  • CSS-based visualization
  • Placeholder with description if actual data not available

Reference Material:

• Graph section

Page 9: Conclusion (conclusion.php)

Content:

• Answer to research question
• Supporting evidence with references to data/graph
• Statistical analysis summary
• Scientific explanation of results
• Real-world applications:
  • Wind turbines
  • Hot air balloons
  • Convection ovens
  • Weather systems
• Hypothesis evaluation
• Key learnings

Reference Material:

• Conclusion section (all 5 required components)

Page 10: Future Research & Bibliography (future_bibliography.php)

Content:

• What I Would Do Next Section:
  • 8 future research directions listed
  • Ideas for extending the experiment
• Bibliography Section:
  • All references in APA format
  • Links to sources (if applicable)
  • Proper citation formatting

Reference Material:

• What I Would Do Next section
• Bibliography section

Technical Implementation Guidelines

File Structure

/
├── index.php (Home/Title)
├── purpose.php
├── background.php
├── question_hypothesis.php
├── variables_materials.php
├── procedures.php
├── data_results.php
├── graph.php
├── conclusion.php
├── future_bibliography.php
├── css/
│   └── style.css (shared stylesheet)
└── images/
    └── (project images if available)

PHP Implementation Approach

• Use PHP includes for shared header/footer/navigation
• Simple PHP variables for dynamic content
• No database queries or complex server logic
• Static content with PHP for templating

Design Considerations

• Clean, professional science fair presentation style
• Consistent navigation across all pages
• Readable typography
• Appropriate use of whitespace
• Color scheme: Consider warm colors (candle theme) but keep professional
• Responsive design (works on desktop and tablet)

Navigation Structure

• Header navigation menu on all pages
• Previous/Next page buttons
• Breadcrumb navigation optional
• Clear page indicators

Content Guidelines

• Use exact content from reference document where specified
• Maintain scientific accuracy
• Use proper scientific terminology
• Include metric units throughout
• Professional tone appropriate for science fair

Key References from Source Document

Primary Content Sources:

1. Purpose Statement - Lines 5-8
2. Background Research - Lines 11-18, 264-300
3. Research Question - Line 23
4. Hypothesis - Lines 27-29
5. Variables - Lines 33-47
6. Materials - Lines 50-64
7. Procedures - Lines 68-126
8. Data Template - Lines 139-156
9. Graph Description - Lines 159-168
10. Results Template - Lines 172-178
11. Conclusion - Lines 182-219
12. Future Research - Lines 222-241
13. Bibliography - Lines 244-259

Historical & Scientific Context:

• German Christmas pyramids history (Lines 264-271)
• Convection science explanation (Lines 272-300)
• Real-world applications (Lines 200-205)

Content Adaptation Notes

For Static PHP Implementation:

• Convert markdown formatting to HTML
• Use PHP variables for repeated content (project title, etc.)
• Include navigation component in header/footer
• Structure content in semantic HTML5 elements
• Use CSS for styling and layout

Missing Data Handling:

• If actual experimental data is not available, use template structure
• Include placeholders with clear labels
• Maintain professional appearance even without complete data

Image Placeholders:

• If images are not available, use descriptive alt text
• Create placeholder sections with clear labels
• Maintain layout structure for when images are added

Development Checklist

• Create base HTML structure for all 10 pages
• Implement shared header/navigation component
• Implement shared footer component
• Create CSS stylesheet with consistent styling
• Populate each page with content from reference document
• Format data tables properly
• Create graph visualization (or placeholder)
• Ensure all references are properly formatted (APA)
• Test navigation between pages
• Verify all content is accurate and complete
• Check responsive design on different screen sizes
• Validate HTML/CSS
• Test PHP includes work correctly

Notes

• "No Servers" requirement means files should work when opened directly in a browser or with simple local PHP (php -S localhost:8000)
• Keep PHP usage minimal - mainly for includes and basic templating
• All content should be self-contained in the PHP files
• No external dependencies beyond standard PHP installation