Solidifying Physics concepts

[663697]

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I finished both algebra-based physics I and II not too long ago and made an A in both classes despite being extremely rushed and not being able to learn the concepts properly. The marks tended to be inflated due to a substantial curve on the tests as well. As a result, I can't say that I am necessarily comfortable with many of the concepts so I was thinking of doing some review over the summer so that I'm not completely clueless on the topics once the MCAT comes around.

I was checking out OpenCourseware for supplementary materials but it seems that everything is calculus-based, which tends to go overboard with formulas and what-not. I also have the MCAT physics book but I'm not sure if I should "waste" that resource more than a year before sitting down to study for the actual test?

Any advice would be appreciated!

** On top of all that, my prof was pretty terrible and didn't cover entire chapters on the syllabus that are supposed to show up on the MCAT.

 

[911 Turbo]

What really helped me when I was taking physics was to "act out" the concept in real life. So for example, when we were learning projectile motion, I would go to the park and throw rocks in an empty field while simultaneously thinking about the equations that were governing the rock's motion.

 

[MaxPlancker]

I finished both algebra-based physics I and II not too long ago and made an A in both classes despite being extremely rushed and not being able to learn the concepts properly. The marks tended to be inflated due to a substantial curve on the tests as well. As a result, I can't say that I am necessarily comfortable with many of the concepts so I was thinking of doing some review over the summer so that I'm not completely clueless on the topics once the MCAT comes around.

I was checking out OpenCourseware for supplementary materials but it seems that everything is calculus-based, which tends to go overboard with formulas and what-not. I also have the MCAT physics book but I'm not sure if I should "waste" that resource more than a year before sitting down to study for the actual test?

Any advice would be appreciated!

** On top of all that, my prof was pretty terrible and didn't cover entire chapters on the syllabus that are supposed to show up on the MCAT.

This happens EVERYWHERE. There is no course that will cover everything; courses are not meant to be tailored to the MCAT. This does not mean the prof was bad.

Calculus-based physics is actually LESS formulas and more conceptual thinking and applying mathematical concepts such as integration/differentiation. However, the MCAT physics is primarily trig/algebra based.

Why would you be wasting the MCAT resources? You could at least go through the chapters without writing answers to the questions or use a different book altogether. If you want to prep specifically for the MCAT, then it's advisable to use resources tailored to it unless there's a specific topic for which you want supplementary help.

 

[Jav116]

I used NOVA MCAT Physics book, look it up on amazon, I was in the same boat, made a 129 on the phys/chem section and trust me when I say I made A's in my physics course by pure memorization and no understanding of the material, I highly recommend the book for a deep understanding


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[663697]

This happens EVERYWHERE. There is no course that will cover everything; courses are not meant to be tailored to the MCAT. This does not mean the prof was bad.

Calculus-based physics is actually LESS formulas and more conceptual thinking and applying mathematical concepts such as integration/differentiation. However, the MCAT physics is primarily trig/algebra based.

Why would you be wasting the MCAT resources? You could at least go through the chapters without writing answers to the questions or use a different book altogether. If you want to prep specifically for the MCAT, then it's advisable to use resources tailored to it unless there's a specific topic for which you want supplementary help.

Thanks for advice. When I meant terrible, I meant that the professor didn't follow the syllabus and just skipped whatever chapters they didn't like teaching haha.

I thought I would be wasting it since I won't be taking the MCAT for more than a year from now, but I'll definitely try the book.

 

[663697]

I used NOVA MCAT Physics book, look it up on amazon, I was in the same boat, made a 129 on the phys/chem section and trust me when I say I made A's in my physics course by pure memorization and no understanding of the material, I highly recommend the book for a deep understanding


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

That's actually the book that I have as well, I heard a lot of good things about it. Did you work out of that book solely or did you also do problems from the book you used in your physics class?

 

[663697]

What really helped me when I was taking physics was to "act out" the concept in real life. So for example, when we were learning projectile motion, I would go to the park and throw rocks in an empty field while simultaneously thinking about the equations that were governing the rock's motion.

That's awesome! It would be a bit tougher to do with EM though 🙂