Virtual Reality (VR) in STEM education is often hampered by a Gulf of Embodiment due to the lack of realistic haptic feedback. We present MomentumTouch, a system utilizing a physical apparatus synchronized in real-time with the virtual scene to provide consistent haptic feedback for high school physics learning on the law of conservation of momentum. In a comparative study conducted in a real classroom with 64 students, we revealed a Cognitive Resource Reconstruction mechanism: consistent haptic feedback did not merely lower the total cognitive load but significantly reduced extraneous cognitive load caused by interaction uncertainty, while reallocating the released resources to germane cognitive load that promotes deep understanding. Although immediate test scores remained comparable, this structural shift points to enhanced conceptual grounding and readiness for transfer, thereby fostering deeper embodied understanding. This study provides high-ecological-validity empirical evidence establishing consistent haptic feedback as a Cognitive Resource Reconstructor, offering new design principles for VR embodied learning. The code is available at: https://github.com/zheliku/MomentumTouch.

Haptic interaction is crucial for immersive virtual physics experiments, but current haptic devices cannot provide high-fidelity feedback by simultaneously simulating realistic physical shapes and dynamic forces. To address this, we introduce PhysicsHap, a modular haptic framework designed for the rapid construction of reconfigurable proxies that provide both high-fidelity shape replication and dynamic force feedback for immersive virtual physics experiments. The framework's core comprises passive Tangible Bodies to simulate physical shape and active Force Engines to deliver dynamic forces. Furthermore, we leverage the hand-tracking technology of head-mounted displays to achieve precise pose synchronization between the physical proxy and its digital twin. We conducted a randomized controlled experiment with 64 secondary school students to evaluate the effectiveness of PhysicsHap in a coupled oscillators system experiment. The results demonstrate that, compared to a non-haptic gesture-based interaction, the PhysicsHap proxies significantly enhanced students' acquisition of experimental physics knowledge and comprehensive abilities, increased their learning motivation, and optimized their cognitive load by reducing extraneous and increasing germane cognitive load. We open-source PhysicsHap to the community at https://github.com/lyh-12/PhysicsHap.