In physics, drawing a picture can really make things easier.
If you organize your information, your brain will be free to deal with actual physics instead of reading comprehension. It will also make the original, confusing text unneeded. This will help you see the variables in front of you clearly, find the proper equation to use, and see what you’re missing. Other times, there will be variables whose purpose is revealed in a later part of the question.įor example, if the question has a car that starts to move from rest and takes 5 minutes to reach a speed of 20 km/h, you should write down the basic variables like so:ĭo this with all the information you get out of the question. Sometimes, you will be given extra information that you won’t really need. Word problems are confusing only because they hide the actual variables inside them. Make sure you don’t miss crucial information.
Read the question carefully – this isn’t the time to skim. Two objects falling from a window might behave differently if they are both attached to one another. A car starting from rest, for instance, means your initial velocity is zero. Make sure you know what you need to do.Īnother good tip to remember at this point, too, is that many physics problems have very crucial information in the wording. Each of these will require a slightly different strategy. The same type of problem – say, bouncing ball – can ask you to find initial velocity, maximum height or angle of launch. Now, read the question again, and make sure you are clear on what it actually requires you to find. So you understand the physical situation now, and you know what subject this question deals with (or multiple subjects).
You don’t have to understand all the small details, but once you know what you’re dealing with in general, you will know how to formulate your answer and which equations to use. What is going on in this problem? Is this a ball free-falling from some height? Is it Superman’s velocity as he flies to save Lois Lane a certain distance away? Or perhaps it’s a question about magnetism? Electricity?įigure out the context first. From now on, the only thing that you need to concentrate on is converting the horrible, confusing chunk of text into readable bits that fit into your formulas. As long as you remember these formulas, you are most of the way to an answer. In lower level physics, most questions can be solved by simple formulas. This is your time to take a deep breath, close your eyes, and count to five. Whose cars go in which direction? What type of wave travels on the string? Help me, you think in terror. You have no idea where to start, even if you recognize the basic concepts. You look at the question and the sentences loom at you menacingly, confusing you to no end. Sounds obvious, right? And yet, it’s harder than it sounds. These will help whether the problem is in a homework assignment or on an exam. In my experience tutoring for (and taking) low level physics classes, I have worked out a few ground rules that can help you conquer problems. Quite often, it’s the panic itself that prevents students from dealing with the subject carefully and getting the most out of those courses. In basic physics – material covered in high school and low level university courses – the methodology is straightforward. That much can explain why not everyone goes for a physics career. Describing our world is not always intuitive, and sometimes requires a mathematical and conceptual understanding that is very advanced. Physics – and most science subjects – can be very complicated. The difference seems to be that only those who like physics – and find a good way of dealing with it – stick around to deal with the higher level stuff. This begins with very basic physics, but continues with higher level material. In general, physics seems to have this aura to it that scares people before they even start solving a problem. Most of them shy away from physics problems, though, letting me – and a handful of other tutors – deal with the dreaded subject. I am the only “pure” physics tutor – the rest of the tutors are mathematicians or engineers who feel very comfortable with mathematics (justly so, they’re all quite awesome).
This semester I started tutoring in the physics and math study center.