With the advent of real-time physically based animation over the past decade, and more recently, the growth of general mathematical computing on graphics processors, there has been an increasing interest in the development of realism in computer graphics. However, the algorithms involved in mimicking the physical world are often very complex, abstract, and out of reach for an average computer science student or practitioner. This work introduces an interface to a physically based algorithm, a thin shell animation, which focuses on visualization, experimentation, and control. Through the use of dynamic coloring, abstract visual cues, robust user interaction, and full control over the algorithm parameters, our system facilitates the process of discovery and experimentation, which can enhance the learning experience and help overcome the difficulties in understanding the mathematically intense concepts that comprise the core of many physically based models. Furthermore, our interface design can be used as model for interacting with other types of physically based animations and provide the same benefits for learning.